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GUYNDINE, 

A Woman With a Conscience. 


By MRS. GRAHAM I,EWIS, 
Author of “Ex Voto.” 


“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?’’ 


A NOVEL. 


Copyrighted by the Author. 


1901 : 

State Capital Ptg. Co.. 
Guthrie, Okla. 


the library of 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Recejveo 

AUG. 27 f901 

Copyright entry 
N«, 


GOPVf 

L 


COPY B. 


To my sons, Ralph T. and H. Chester, is this 
little volume tenderly dedicated. 

The; Author. 


PREFACE. 

“The most exquisite words and finest strokes 
of an author,” says Quackenbos, “are those 
which often appear most exceptionable to a man 
deficient in learning- or delicacy of taste; and it 
is these that a captious and undistinguishing 
critic generally attacks with greatest violence. 
In this case recourse is often had to ridicule. 
A little wit is capable of making a beauty as 
well as a blemish, the subject of derision. 
Though such treatment of an author may have 
its effect with some who erroneously think that 
the sentiment criticised is ridiculous instead of 
the wit with which it is attacked, yet in the in- 
telligent reader it will naturally produce indig- 
nation or disgust.” 

The author is not unwilling to have this work 
examined by the principles of good taste and 
sound understanding. But there are vulgar 
critics who carry their strictures to the verge 
of personal abuse, and as this volume contains 
truths which will make such men writhe, and 
will necessarily affect their temper as pure 
water affects canine madness, there is no hope 
of escaping them. So anticipating the worst, 
we submit to the inevitable and patiently await 
the onset. But the consolation remains that 
there are still Aristotles, Dionysiuses, Tong- 
inuses, Ciceros and Quintillians, whose more 
delicate tastes, nobler natures and profounder 
knowledge will make indiscriminate fault-find- 
ing and ridicule because of prejudice impossible 
with them: who, recognizing and appreciating 
the pure purposes of this work, will prefer to 
dwell upon its good points rather than its de- 
fects. G. T. 



' ' ' \ » '-'J* O V'. V ' 
.1 ' ‘ ' A : 'V 


i '■ ■■ 














i 



GUYNDINE, 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


CHAPTER I. 

In the city of A — , in the state of Georgia, 
there stands a fine old suburban residence 
with deep mullioned windows and Gothic 
roof ; its grey walls are half hidden by climb- 
ing ivy and forest trees. A long grassy 
slope with a broad gravel walk leads from the 
gate to the house, and a circling driveway 
leads back to a spacious barn. The grounds 
are dotted here and there with beds of flow- 
ers, back of the house is a grove -and a large 
garden well filled with flowers and shrubs. 
This is Spencer Place. 

A soft breath from the gulf stole in at the 
open window, a pair of dark grey eyes looked 
forth upon the loveliness of nature and a sigh 
fluttered out from the smiling red lips. To 
Guyndine Vauce the world is luminous and 
full of revelation; visions of beauty beckon 


6 


GUTNDINE, 


and sweet sounds woo her on every side, her 
responsive nature vibrates to every toucl" 
and the discords of life strike upon her highly 
sensitive spirit, like the crash of a hammer 
upon an Aeolian harp. She has a personality 
which supremely attracts, a vitality so ex- 
uberant that your faculties are intensified and 
you find yourself studying her. Your eyes 
wander back again and again to the face 
which, at first glance, possibly you thought 
ordinary. 

Sixteen years ago, when Guyndine was 
three years old, her mother who was a widow 
had married Squire Spencer, a wealthy wid- 
ower with one son three years older than her- 
self. The affinity between these two children 
was very strong ; they at once became insep- 
arable companions. 

Nature had been very lavish when she en- 
dowed Harry Spencer; there was perfection 
in form and feature; the fair smooth brow 
was bright with intelligence. He possessed 
that ''that must be born, that no price can 
buy, that gift of heaven, genius.” ISTo man is 
self-made; he is God-made if he is made at 
all ; he must be born with the spark of genius 
in his blood. Of such Eliza Cook says : 

“They hold the rank no king can give, 

No station can disgrace; 

Nature puts forth her gentlemen 
And monarchs must give place ’ ’ 

Harry Spencer’s nature was a blending of 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


7 


man's vigor with that finer insight generally 
attributed to woman alone. This gave him 
a wonderful influence over Guyndine. As 
they grew older she entered sympathetically 
and intelligently into all his aims and pur- 
suits, and in the strong character he is help- 
ing her to build, his influence will tell 
through eternity. 

There was not the slightest resemblance 
between Harry and the Squire. Harry was 
large, finely proportioned, calm and dignified. 
The Squire was a small, wiry, nervous man 
with an ungovernable temper, keen blue eyes, 
long thin nose, thin compressed lips and a 
nasal twang, ''and, gentlemen, he was a 
Spencer." His blood was blue; that was 
someting he never forgot ; he kept the mem- 
ory green like flowers in water and "rolled 
it as a sweet morsel under his tongue." But 
sad to relate he possessed some snobbish 
traits of character. Webster says, "There is 
nothing in nature that makes a man so de- 
formed, so beastly, as doth intemperate 
anger," and Pope says, "Worth makes the 
man and want of it the fellow." When the 
Squire was angry he was a maniac ; he raved, 
gesticulated and threatened, and Mrs. Spen- 
cer always had just one more word to say 
which kept him wound up and going. If, 
when he was looking for his second wife, he 
had searched for one who would know just 
how to keep him in a continual ferment, he 


8 GUYNDINE, 

could not have found one better suited to 
his purpose. Yet she dreaded his tantrums 
and never intentionally riled him; without 
meaning to do so she invariably stroked his 
feathers the wrong way; besides she had a 
head of her own and the Squire's wishes and 
commands were frequently ignored. The 
younger children, seeing her example, walked 
in it. So it will not require a very great 
stretch of the imagination for one to make 
an accurate guess as to how much happiness 
was in the Spencer home. 

Despite his faults Mrs. Spencer was proud 
of her husband ; not because of his physical 
beauty, however; There was little physique 
to be proud of. It was all the Squire could 
do, dressed in his winter clothes and heavy 
boots, to tip the scales at a hundred and ten, 
but the quality of the article made up for lack 
of quantity and the knowledge that he was 
a Spencer was enough. The Squire was in 
the habit of holding long and interesting dis- 
cussions with his sister, in the presence of 
his family, on the genealogical tree of the 
house of Spencer, which had the desired ef- 
fect upon all except Harry and Guyndine, 
the effect upon them being to flush Harry's 
face and curl Guyndine's lip. 

Mrs. Spencer possessed some fine traits 
r: character. She was a good mother, a fine 
housekeeper, an elegant cook, a kind neigh- 
bor, and she thought a true wife and devout 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


9 


Christian. She would have felt deeply in- 
jured and insulted had she been told that 
she had broken the marriage vow. She 
thought to break the marriage vow meant 
to commit adultery and she was as pure as 
the snow; as to being a Christian, she was 
sincere and meant to be, but her eyesight 
when turned inward was not so good as when 
she looked out. 

As Guyndine stood by the open window, 
a black shiny face appeared from around the 
corner of the house. 

‘‘Miss Guynn, yo' mammy say wah yo’ 
blue organdie, what made ober de pink. She 
say tell you Preacher JSToble done come, an' 
fix yo'sef up nice." 

“Oh dear!" sighed Guyndine, “sack-cloth 
and ashes would suit me better than organdie 
and lace." 

“Lawsey! what yo' wants ashes fo'? yo' 
don't need to scour, yo's white as a snow 
drif now. Yo' mammy say hurry up, Miss 
Guynn, it 'leven o'clock right now," and the 
black face disappeared. 

An hour later Guyndine glided into the 
dining room and was presented by Squire 
Spencer to the Rev. Dr. Noble as “our 
daughter. Miss Vauce." She was fragrant 
and sweet in pale blue organdie, creamy lace, 
pink ribbons and white heliotrope. 

The Reverend Doctor devoured her with 
his eyes. He was pastor of one of the city 


10 


QUYNDINE, 


churches, was a widower whose mourning 
period had about expired, and who was be- 
ginning to grow inexpressibly lonely. There 
was an aching void in his bosom which clam- 
ored for satisfaction. He found it difficult, 
under existing circumstances to keep his 
mind stayed on sacred things. He was con- 
scious it was not excessive grief which had 
caused this abnormal condition, for he had 
been quite resigned to the will of Providence, 
and felt it was better for Martha to have been 
removed than for himself to have been taken ; 
the Lord had other Marthas, and this one 
needed rest ; besides, he felt that he had out- 
grown her. She was well enough to start 
with while his charges were village churches, 
but since he had risen to the dignity of a city 
church, Martha was a back number, and he 
clearly recognized the hand of God in her re- 
moval, and very resignedly said, ''He doeth 
all things well.’’ The Sunday following 
Martha’s obsequies, he chose the above text, 
and by an object lesson clearly demonstrated 
to the dear dying people that the religion of 
Christ is all-sufficient. His lip quivered, his 
voice broke and he was obliged to stop for a 
moment. The interval was filled by an exhi- 
bition of lace handkerchiefs in the audience, 
while here and there a plain hemstitched one 
soaked up the crystal drops of sympathy. 
There was a general blowing of noses and 
wiping of eyes throughout the congregation. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


11 


He had the sympathy of his flock. They 
were not weeping for Martha, Oh no! She 
had long since been weighed in the balance 
and found wanting, and the general verdict 
of the dear sisters had been that she was 
unsuited to be the wife of such a man. She 
was an humble, consecrated Christian, but 
sad to tell, she was deficient in taste and 
had no style ; it seemed a pity for a man with 
the ability of their beloved pastor to be so- 
hampered, and they also recognized the hand 
of Providence. 

After a slight struggle the Doctor recov- 
ered his equanimity, and was himself again. 
But the reader must not infer that he was act- 
ing the hypocrite, for he certainly Vv^as not. 
It is true he was not weeping for Martha, nor 
even thinking of her. He was simply sorry 
for himself, as he viewed himself from the 
stand-point of the pew, and felt for himself 
what he was conscious his dear congregation 
felt for him. The gods had for once given 
him the power of seeing himself as others 
-saw him, and he looked so pitiful to himself 
that it quite overcame him. He did not mean 
to be hypocritical in any respect. He was 
preaching the gospel from what he believed 
was an honest heart. He had decided when 
a small boy that he would be a preacher, but 
he had had a long hard struggle with him- 
self before deciding, and he had vacillated for 
months between two questions, whether to 


12 


GUYNDINE, 


be a preacher or a clown in a circus. 

''John, if I didn't know which to be, Td 
draw straws," suggested his brother. 

"I have a notion to." 

"All right, where's the broom? I'll fix the 
straws. Here now, long straw, clown ; short 
straw, preacher;" holding out his hand to 
John with the straws closed in it. John 
stood for some minutes with his hands 
crossed behind him, looking intently at the 
end of the straws. "Hurry up and draw." 
Still he hesitated. "Well, I don't want to 
stand here all day, why don't you draw?" 

"I'm afraid to, for fear I won't get the one 
I want." 

"Which one do you want?" 

"Well, I don't know." 

"If you don't draw now by the time I count 
three its off. One-two-th — " 

He snatched a straw and lo ! fate had de- 
cided in favor of the clown. He drew a long 
breath of relief, the momentous question was 
decided at last, and a great burden rolled off 
his mind. As soon as breakfast was over he 
went to the barn loft, and with some hay 
and an old quilt he fixed a nice soft spot — if 
there was one thing that he liked more than 
another, it was a soft spot, — and began the 
practice of calisthenics and tumbling prepara- 
tory to his chosen profession. In a few days 
a preacher making his monthly rounds 
stopped over Sunday at his father's house. It 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


13 


had been an unfortunate week for John; in 
his enthusiasm he had twice over-shot the 
mark, missed the quilt and struck instead an 
old plow, which left him in such a dilapidated 
condition that, rather than take the chances 
of the preacher’s learning that he was practic- 
ing for a clown, he chose to keep himself hid- 
den till the preacher left. He was obliged to 
eat at the second table ; the chicken was all 
gone but the neck ; there was but one biscuit 
left, and everything was cold and mussed 
over. He began to draw comparisons which 
were very unfavorable to his new profession. 
Clowns must have a hard time of it after all, 
and being a preacher was next to being a 
king. Everybody struck an attitude of good 
behavior the moment the preacher came in 
sight. He was met with smiles and cordial 
hand clasps ; he was taken to the parlor which 
had not been open since the last preacher 
was there ; his horse was taken to the best 
stall, rubbed down and given the new 
blanket ; his buggy was cleaned and shel- 
tered; aud all through his stay there was a 
continual feast. The wonder to him was 
that everybody did not preach, that there 
was any one at all left for an audience. His 
mother’s greatest ambition was that one of 
her sons should become a minister. Here 
was an opportunity to kill three birds with 
one stone. He could have a good time him- 
self, satisfy his mother’s ambition, and help 


14 


GUYNDINE, 


the Lord get ready for the millennium. So he 
ran counter to the choice of fate ; he was am- 
bitious, had risen rapidly, and stood well 
with his conference. He soon learned that 
his standinng was gauged, not by his spirit- 
uality but by his collections and reports, con- 
sequently they were always up to the notch. 
The conference was not foolishly particular 
and made little investigation along the line 
of spirituality. His character — or rather his 
reputation — was immaculate, and he received 
a large number of immaculate people into his 
church each year, that is, they were immacu- 
late on the outside, that was all he knew 
about it or cared to know. His was an 
aristocratic church, the knowledge of which 
gave him great satisfaction. He cared little 
about that other class; they did not suit his 
church, nor did it suit them, and he had no 
time to look after them ; such people require 
a great deal of running after. It is true 
Christ put great stress upon preaching the 
gospel to the poor, seeing after them and 
even going into the gutter to raise them up 
and minister to their wants; but Christ did 
not live in the latter part of the nineteenth 
century, with all the complicated machinery 
of an aristocratic church resting upon him. 
Christ’s work was very simple; it consisted 
in preaching the gospel and healing the sick. 
He knew nothing about furnishing entertain- 
ment to the church such as burdened the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


15 


Reverend Doctor and the dear sisters. Christ 
did entertain some folks in the temple one 
day with whip-lashes, and He held some very 
radical ideas along the church entertainment 
line, but then, you know. He did not live in 
the latter part of the nineteenth century; if 
He had His crucifixion would have taken 
place long before He reached the age of 
thirty-three years; especially if He had in- 
dulged in His whip-lash exercises in the 
temple with the learned and profound D. D’s., 
the sensitive and exquisite sisters and the 
dear, stiff-necked, high-collared brethren. 
Spirituality was an unknown quantity in. the 
Doctor’s church and life, but it afforded a 
fine theme for his flowery and flighty effu- 
sions, which the brethren pronounced '^deep 
and profound,” and the sisters declared were 
‘'perfectly exquisite.” 


CHAPTER II. 


“Something- there is more needful than expense, 
And something previous e’en to taste — ’tis 
sense.” 

And now after these weary months the 
Doctor is gradually allowing his bereaved 
eyes to open to some of the carnal attrac- 
tions which obstruct his pathway. It is true 
he has upon several occasions, when nobody 
was looking, taken sly peeps out of the cor- 
ners of his eyes, and his mind had wandered 
into all sorts of by-paths, but he had suc- 
ceeded in preserving his mournful expres- 
sion of countenance, which impressed the 
sisters and impelled some of them to lean 
toward him in a more than sisterly sympathy. 

Sadly he looked at the broad crape band 
on his hat and discovered that it was getting 
rusty, and with a long-drawn sigh he decided 
to take it off. 

Remembering how unselfish and solicitous 
for his comfort had been his late lamented 
Martha, he felt that if she could speak to him 
she would tell him to find consolation as 
quickly as possible. Up to the present time he 
could not remember of a single instance in 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 17 

which he had taken her advice, but now what 
he conceived to be her wish coincided 
beautifully with his own ideas of the fitness 
of things. On the following Sunday as his 
eyes wandered over the congregation from 
one handsome face to another, they rested 
at length upon a face, with a shell-like com- 
plexion and dark, dreamy eyes, in which he 
thought he detected more contempt than 
sympathy, but which nevertheless possessed 
a strange fascination for him. Upon inquiry 
he learned that the possessor of the grey 
eyes was Squire Spencer’s step-daughter. 
Remembering that Mrs. Spencer was not at 
church as usual, he lost no time in going to 
see after her. He timed his call near the 
dinner hour, thus receiving an invitation to 
dinner and making his chance of meeting the 
object of his admiration almost certain. 

The Doctor’s welcome that day at Spencer 
Place was so near an ostensive pretense, that 
•had he been a sensitive man he would have 
felt it, but he suffered no discomfort what- 
ever. His inopportune visit had made the 
dinner late; nothing so riled the Squire as 
irregular meals. After having waited fifteen 
minutes over time for the announcement ot 
dinner and still it did not come, he could en- 
dure it no longer, and, excusing himself, all 
out of sorts he wended his way to the kitchen 
on a tour of investigation, which was not cal- 
culated to expedite matters, but rather to 


G-2 


18 


GUYNDINE, 


complicate and retard them. Mrs. Spencer 
was there and owing to a presentiment that 
the Squire would soon put in an appearance 
was very much flurried. She knew him of 
old. The kitchen was steaming hot, and as 
he entered, the perspiration started at every 
pore, and the heat without, adding fuel to 
the smouldering fire within, exasperated 
him. 

‘‘What in the devil is the matter with this 
dinner? I have been waiting here for the 
last hour. What in thunder is up out here 
anyhow? If I can’t get my dinner at home 
I can at the hotel.” By this time his face was 
as red as a beet. “A woman with a thimble 
full of sense would not keep a cook who is 
forever behind with her meals.” 

Mrs. Spencer was very warm and was 
doing her best to help the cook hurry the 
dinner. 

“If I was a woman with a great big nigger 
like that in my kitchen,” continued the 
Squire, “and couldn’t get a meal inside of 
three hours I’d cut my head off, and I’d cut 
the blame nigger’s head off if she couldn’t 
do it without me.” 

Mrs. Spencer turned on him in desperation. 
“Mr. Spencer leave this kitchen this instant 
or I will.” 

His face grew a shade redder, and the per- 
spiration stood in beads on his forehead ; he 
gave her a vicious look and with a kick sent 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


19 


the cat sprawling into the water bucket, 
which fell over against the churn, upsetting it 
and filling Mrs. Spencer’s slippers with but- 
termilk, which caused the cook to spill the 
gravy and scald her hand. ^‘Oh, lawsey!” 
howled Aunt Roe, '‘Whar’s de watah ? 
quick ! quick ! Tse done ruin my han’ fo’ 
evermo’, I know’s I has.” The Squire quietly 
withdrew into the hall, stopped and wiped the 
perspiration from his brow, and very com- 
placently entered the parlor after an absence 
of about three minutes. Mrs. Spencer who 
was naturally nervous was completely un- 
strung and a few minutes later when dinner 
was announced, she entered the dining-room 
in a state bordering on hysteria; her face 
was fairly purple and the perspiration oozed 
out at every pore. She trembled like one in 
a fit of ague, partly from anger and partly 
from fear that the Reverend Doctor had 
overheard the Squire’s loud voice. In her 
opinion a turmoil was not so bad if the sur- 
face could be kept placid. Of course it was 
not pleasant to have those things occur, but 
she cared not so much for the Squire’s swell- 
ing spleen, nor for the lightning that leaped 
from his eyes, nor yet for his words that‘‘cut 
the air with sarcasm” if he would only pitch 
his voice lower. To have it known that there 
was unpleasantness in her family, was humil- 
iating beyond degree. She was very solic- 
itous lest the ^dittle differences,” as she 


20 


GUYNDINE, 


termed them, which so frequently occurred 
between herself and the Squire, should be 
overheard. The little differences sometimes 
rose to storms of fury, and continued into the 
wee small hours. 

As Mrs. Spencer passed the Rev. Dr. 
Noble his coffee he remarked: ''Sister Spen- 
cer, I missed you from church Sunday even- 
ing and I feared you were ill.’^ 

"I was detained with a severe headache,’’ 
said she. 

“I am sorry you were unable to be present. 
There was a large and appreciative audience 
out and I am told my sermon was generally 
considered a masterly achievement, and, of 
course, I cannot well help feeling a little ex- 
ultant.” Most of the Reverend Doctor’s 
sentences began with the pronoun "I.” 

"It is always with regret that I miss one 
of your sermons,” said Mrs. Spencer. 

Harry glanced at Guyndine. Her lip wore 
a sarcastic curl which, however, was lost 
upon the Doctor. She had been unfortunate 
in the ministers she had met; she had not 
known many, but to use her own words she 
had "never found one who would bear close 
inspection.” The consequence was she had 
a supreme contempt for the whole fraternity. 
She declared to Harry that they were a com- 
pound of impudence, self-conceit, and pure 
brass. Being skeptical, she watched profes- 
sing Christians narrowly; her ideal was high 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


21 


and the glaring faults which she could not 
help but see in her mother and step-father — 
the Squire was a professor — and in ministers 
of the gospel in whom she had a right to ex- 
pect glimpses of Christly perfection, had the 
effect of making her feel there was not much 
in it, and had it not been for the example of 
her sainted grandmother and the consistent 
life of Harry, she would have been a pro- 
nounced skeptic. 

“I noticed you were out. Miss Vauce; how 
did you like my sermon?’' The Reverend 
Doctor was always fishing for compliments. 

‘'I dare not tell you, sir, as you are our 
guest and mamma would never forgive me. 
So if you will excuse me I will leave the ques- 
tion unanswered, since to truthfully answer it 
under the circumstances would seem rude.” 

His face flushed slightly and he looked sur- 
prised. He had expected the ‘'Oh, just 
lovely !” style of reply. 

“I insist that you answer my question word 
for word as you would do if I were not your 
guest.” 

“Well then, I did not like it.” 

“And why, pray?” persisted he, opening 
his eyes very wide and expecting that piece 
of pink and white flesh to reply, “Well, just 
because I didn’t.” 

“I was painfully alive to the fact,” said she, 
“that' in that large audience were many per- 


22 


GUYNDINE, 


sons who, like myself for instance, were un- 
saved — as you would say on the brink 
of hell, — many who will never again 
'come within reach of your voice, whom you 
will never till the dawn of eternity have an- 
other opportunity of touching with your in- 
fluence. If you really believe the doctrine set 
forth in the Bible, how dare you stand before 
God and with a flowery sermon lose the one 
opportunity of your life?’' 

His face was a study. The little bald spot 
on the crown of his head resembled a shiny 
pink shell, and in his small blue eyes was a 
confused expression. He shifted uneasily in 
his chair and cleared his throat. 

'‘Miss Vauce, you are pretty hard on a fel- 
low; but surely you do not mean to imply 
that my sermon had nothing good in it?" 

“No, I did not mean to say just that; a 
noted divine once said, 'Men come to church 
for God, if you cannot give them God you 
are a misfit in the ministry. To take the hand 
of God in one hand and to take the hand of 
humanity in the other, to clasp the hands 
and to remain unseen the while yourself — 
this is the splendid work of the Christian 
ministry.' Sermons like the one Sunday 
night make me feel that Christ is only a 
poetic ideal. I hope you will pardon me, sir, 
and remember you insisted upon having my 
opinion. And, mamma, I beg your pardon 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 23 

now, for I know I shall be obliged to do so 
later.’’ 

'‘Oh, no offense,’^ said he in his blandest 
tone, “but I am sorry you have taken this 
view of my sermon. A minister’s work has 
its difficulties as well as its encouragements. 
We are frequently misunderstood.” 

“If I have misunderstood you, sir, I am 
ready to acknowledge and beg pardon if you 
will show me wherein.” 

“Perhaps I could not point out exactly 
wherein so as to make it clear to you, or per- 
haps I have stumbled. James says, ‘In many 
things we all stumble ;’ also, ‘If any man 
stumble not in word, the same is a perfect 
man, able to bridle the whole body.’ ” 

“Well,” replied Guyndine, “I regret to say 
I am inclined to be skeptical, and when those 
who have accepted positions as Christian 
leaders of men confess themselves blind 
guides, they inspire small hope for such as 
I, and it makes me sick at heart.” 

For once the Doctor was silenced. Turn- 
ing to the Squire he said: “I have had the 
luck lately of being called down by the young 
people. Wednesday evening. Brother Harry 
here requested me to comment on the fifth 
chapter of James, which I did, and he re- 
fused to accept my comments. He seems to 
think the Church has retrograded. But, 


24 GUYNDINE, 

Brother Spencer, I am not in the least pes- 
simistic/' 

‘‘Nor am I pessimistic," said Harry. “I 
could not be and believe the Bible. Revelation 
is progressive ; Christianity is necessarily op- 
timistic. But I do say that the Church is not 
living in the exercise of the practical faith 
which Christ intended." 

“My dear brother," replied the Doctor, 
“the Church is faithfully doing the work 
which Christ committed to her, and the 
foundation stone for all her good works is 
faith, practical faith. Whenever a soul takes 
hold on Christ and is saved, that is practical 
faith. What more do you want?" 

“I want that which Christ practiced and 
taught the Church to practice; that which 
will furnish tangible proof to the world that 
Christ has power on earth to forgive sin." 

“The world is to accept Christ by faith," 
observed the Doctor. “The Church is not 
expected to furnish proof except the blame- 
less life of the Christian." 

“Then you expect more of the world than 
Christ expected of it; you expect it with its 
eyes of flesh, without any spiritual discern- 
ment, to accept the fact that the Holy Spirit 
enters the human heart and performs a mir- 
acle." 

“We expect the Holy Spirit to open the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


25 


eyes of the world by the foolishness of 
preaching/ ’’ replied the Doctor. 

'‘When Chrfst asserted his power to forgive 
sin/' said Harry, "he proved it by his mira- 
cles. God did not expect the world to accept 
Christ without proof, and He spoke to it 
first with prophecy and in an audible voice, 
'This is my beloved son.' The world is the 
same incredulous world that it was two 
thousand years ago. It must and will have 
proof or one-half of it goes to perdition. 
Christ did not refuse to furnish proof to 
doubting Thomas, neither does he expect 
the Church to refuse proof to the descendants 
of doubting Thomas. The world wants a 
God who will come down to its bodily ail- 
ments, not with sympathy alone, but with 
healing. The Church teaches us to believe 
in special Providence yet it shortens the arm 
of God when it comes to healing; the world 
cannot understand a God who has power to 
create and to miraculously cleanse the spirit 
and yet withholds the healing touch from the 
afflicted body. Wesley believed and taught 
tins doctrine, yet the Methodist Church 
today refuses to accept it. I believe if the 
Church had taught and practised what Christ 
intended, the millennium would have dawned 
centuries ago. 

"My son," said the Squire, "I am afraid 
you are on the road to fanaticism." 

The Doctor smiled. "He is worse than on 


26 


GUYNDINE, 


the road, he is already a full-fledged fanatic.’^ 

‘‘Well,'’ said Harry, “I have some dis- 
tinguished predecessors. Any reformation, 
especially in the Church, invariably calls for 
the attachment of that appellation to him who 
dares to favor it." 

“If we should consider every question that 
is sprung in the Church under the head of 
reformation, we should soon have a mess of 
it," growled the Doctor. 

“Doctor, do you believe it possible for a 
man whose blood is full of contagion, inher- 
ited or otherwise, to live a Christian of the 
highest type?" 

“Why not? Spiritual nourishment must 
be drawn from a higher source than the 
blood. Spirit is the dominating force and 
not matter." 

“In one sense," said Harry, “spirit dom- 
inates matter, but there is such a thing as 
matter ruling spirit. The morbid appetite of 
diseased blood will drag the spirit against its 
desire into the lowest degradation of earth 
and on down to perdition. You tell the ine- 
briate to come to Christ, that He is able to 
save from the drink habit. What is that but 
healing the body? Is it not diseased blood 
which causes the habit ? Then if I have con- 
sumption you will turn square around, and 
tell me I must die, that the days of miracles 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


27 


are over. Do you imagine, sir, that this cool, 
calculating world cannot see these incon- 
sistencies V 

'‘That power was never given to the 
Church,’’ insisted the Doctor. 'Tt was given 
to the apostles and died with them.” 

"Whenever you succeed in convincing the 
world that the days of miracles are over,” 
said Harry, "you have made a great stride 
toward convincing it that such days never ex- 
isted. It will be easy, for the infidel is preach- 
ing the same doctrine. But the Bible gives 
no man the right to make such a statement. 
God says T am the same yesterday, today 
and forever ;’ also, Tf ye abide in me and my 
words abide in you, ye may ask what ye will 
and it shall be done unto you;’ and ‘call the 
elders and anoint with oil’ is as much a 
command as ‘believe and be baptized.’ If 
the days of miracles are over, it is because the 
days of faith are over. When the Church 
returns to old-time faith, the spirit will re- 
turn to the Church and not till then. The 
Church is unsatisfactory to the masses with- 
out it ; in proof of which let me cite you to 
the army of people — and good people too — 
who are being led away by that cunningly 
devised infidel scheme, ‘Christian Science,’ so 
called.” 

"Yes,” admitted the Doctor, "it is alament- 
able fact that many are going after strange 


28 GUYNDINE, 

gods, but it is all in accordance with 
prophecy/’ 

“But,” said Harry, “prophecy teaches that 
the falling away from the Church is caused 
by its leaders having failed to stand firm upon 
Christian principles.” 

“Christian Science is nothing new,” said 
the Doctor. “It is simply an old 'ism’ 
under a new name; its original name was 
Pantheism.” 

“Infidelity, pure and simple,” said the 
Squire. 

“Do they not claim to believe in Christ, 
to follow Him, and draw their healing from 
Him.?” asked Mrs. Spencer. 

“Oh, no !” replied the Squire, “they do not 
claim any healing power; it is simply the 
influence of mind over matter. They claim 
that Christ possessed no healing power ; that 
there was nothing miraculous in any of His 
works ; that He was not divine any more than 
we are; that we are a part of God, and as 
God cannot get sick, we are never sick ex- 
cept in our imaginations. They deny even 
their own personality. They have decided 
that matter or the mortal body is nothing 
but a belief, an illusion.” 

“But,” said Harry, “many who are going 
into it are deceived into the belief that they 
teach divine healing.’' 

“Yes,” said the Doctor, “and the horrible 
doctrine is written up in such a round-about 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


29 


way as not to shock the senses. Mrs. Eddy 
has used hundreds of pages to express what 
she could have said in a few words, had not 
policy and knowledge of human nature dic- 
tated otherwise. She might have come out 
plainly and said science teaches that there is 
no Father, no Holy Spirit except the spirit 
life which prevades all nature; no God but 
the combined forces and laws which are 
manifested in the existing universe ; no divine 
Christ, but somewhere in space a wandering 
spirit who once lived upon earth, deceiving 
poor humanity into a belief that He was God, 
but who for all that was a fine character and 
whose example it would be well for the world 
to follow, etc. That this is her doctrine in a 
nutshell she will not deny, but to one-half of 
her followers her 'Science and Health’ is in- 
comprehensible, and after having poured 
over it for years they will bristle up and af- 
firm that she teaches the divinity of Christ 
and divine healing.” 

"It is immaterial to her,” said the Squire, 
"what they believe, just so they continue to 
patronize her. She has already made a for- 
tune out of their credulity.” 

"Another case of morbid idiopathy,” said 
the Doctor, casting an admiring glance at 
Harry’s right as he wiped his blonde mus- 
tache. 

Jeff changed the course, and the conversa- 
tion was directed to a dish of fine strawber- 


30 


GUYNDINE, 


ries which the hostess served with whipped 
cream and angel food. 

When dinner was over Guyndine excused 
herself on the plea of an engagement, and 
soon it occurred to the Doctor that he also 
had an engagement. 

In the evening as the family seated them- 
selves at the tea table, Guyndine said with a 
curl of her lip, ''What have you done with 
the too utterly utter, fastidiously fastidious. 
Dr. Noble ignoble? Mamma, after you fed 
him angel food did he forget to pray with 
you? But let me guess; I say he forgot.^' 

"Why, Guyndine Vauce! I am aston-, 
ished,'’ said Mrs. Spencer. "I thought I had 
raised you better than this.’' 

"Better than what?” 

"That you should apply such epithets to 
one of my guests, and he a minister too.” 

Guyndine laughed. "Well, really, mamma, 

I beg pardon ; but you know what a prejudice 
I have against misnomers. Why did Christ 
call Herod 'a fox’? Not because he was 
angry at him and tr)dng to nickname him, 
but seeing his fox nature he called him by an 
appropriate name.” 

"I cannot understand, Guyndine, why you 
will persist in this unreasonable prejudice. 
Dr. Noble is pronounced a lovely gentleman 
by everyone but you.” 

"Well,” said Guyndine, "if I were allowed 
to choose a name from the zoological cata- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


31 


logue which in my opinion would suit Dr. 
Ignoble — I beg pardon — Noble, I should not 
choose fox; I would choose skunk.’' Harry 
and the Squire laughed but Mrs. Spencer 
threw up her hands in horror. '^Oh, Guyndine, 
how vulgar ! I felt dreadfully at the way \ ou 
and Harry cut at him ; there is nothing more 
ill-bred then saying unpleasant thirigs to a 
guest. A person who will not be polite in his 
own house is too uncouth to be recognized 
by cultured people.” 

''I did not mean to cut at him,” said Harry, 
was simply trying to keep up my end of 
the argument. I will apologize if I said any- 
thing wrong.” 

‘‘Ih Harry said a word out of the way, I 
didn’t hear it,” said Guyndine, ''and what I 
said he forced out of me. What else could 
I have said truthfully?” 

"You could have said his sermon con- 
tained some fine thoughts,” said Mrs. Spen- 
cer. 

"Yes, I presume I could. But when I feed 
that fellow taffy it will be just before he *s 
translated; the last thing he eats will be my 
taffy. I make it a point to never give swcjits 
to a paltry elf, who prates about that thing, 
himself, and the consequence is I can say 
with Shakespeare, 'I now feel within me a 
peace above all earthly dignities, a still and 
quiet conscience.’ If I had spoken the whole 
truth I would have said that although I had 


32 


GUTNDINE, 


heard him preach a dozen times, or more, in 
my opinion there was not one original 
thought in any of his sermons. I know it is 
not nice to criticise one’s guests, nor anyone 
else for that matter, but I must say again with 
Shakespeare, 'I would rather be a kitten and 
cry mew,’ than such a preacher, and I think 
it would have about as much good effect. 
Mamma, I simply loathe him and I wish you 
wouiu not invite him here. I will never go 
to hear him preach again. Anything for me 
but a farce in the pulpit. If I attend a low- 
style comedy I prefer it on a week night 
in the opera house. I never object to a 
repetition of the pronoun '‘I” in a farce, but 
when it figures more conspicuously in a ser- 
mon than the name of Christ, it is disgusting. 
If you believe Christ is divine, keep Him on 
a high pedestal; if He is a fraud, put your 
feet on Him, the quicker the better.” 

''Guyndine, you are a regular little spit- 
fire,” said the Squire, laughing. ''My, but 
won’t you make some fellow walk a chalk 
line !” 

"She is not only a spit-fire, but she is so 
strong in her prejudices,” lamented Mrs. 
Spencer. "It is impossible to do a thing with 
her when she gets her mind made up; but 
she comes by it honestly, she gets it from the 
Vauces.” 

"I must differ with you, mamma,” said 
Harry. '‘What you call prejudice is fine in- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


83 


tuitive perception, a gift of the gods; and 
one of Guyndine’s finest traits of character 
is her strong will. I admire it. I am dis- 
gusted with that wishy-washy class of people 
who never know what they think nor what 
they intend to do, and are led by every wind 
of doctrine. If Guyndine ever becomes a 
Christian, she will make a grand woman. '' 

With a grateful glance at Harry. Guyndine 
said: '‘I know I am full of faults but dis- 
loyalty is not one of them. If ever I do take 
Christ for my friend I will not throw Him in 
the dust and use Him for a stepping stone ;no 
wonder infidelity abounds.’’ 

''I think,” observed Harry, with a quiet 
smile, ‘'the Reverend Doctor has found an 
attraction which will bring him to Spencer 
Place quite often.” Guyndine flashed him a 
look of surprise, and they all laughed. 

“If he returns after the lashing he got here 
today,” said Mrs. Spencer, “We will give him 
credit for courage at least.” 

“It is my opinion,” ventured the Squire, 
looking at Guyndine with a peculiar smile, 
“that he is valiant enough to return, and he 
has my consent to repeat his visits ad 
libitum.” 

“If this conversation interests you people, 
you have my consent to continue it ad 


G — 3 


34 


GUTNDINE, 


libitum/’ said Guytidine, sweeping out of the 
room with a look of supreme disgust, amid 
a general outburst of laughter. She did not 
return to finish her tea, till she heard the 
family leave the dining-room. Harry was 
there, and with a reproachful glance at him 
she silently took her seat at the table. 

With an amused smile he said: ‘'Forgive 
me, sister, I did not mean to offend you.” 

“I would not care, Harry, if you had not 
said it before the rest, but you know how 
they are. They never would have thought of 
such a thing if you had kept stili.” 

‘T believe any other girl in town would 
have felt complimented; and, sister, I feel it 
my duty to reprove you. I was surprised 
when you called him that vulgar name; it is 
sacrilege to speak so of a minister, besides 
being coarse.” 

“Oh, Harry ! you know what my impulsive 
tongue is always doing. I did not mean to 
say it; it was out before I thought. I felt 
my face flush scarlet, but mamma is forever 
singing his praises which always makes a lit- 
tle demon rise and dance on the end of my 
tongue. When I say those cutting things 
they are not premeditated, and afterwards I 
regret very much having given utterance to 
them. And, Harry, sometimes I imagine 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


35 


there is a nest of those little demons down 
deep somewhere and their name is legion, and 
at times they hold high revel and then I am 
helpless and liable to say and do almost any- 
thing. I never can make mamma understand 
it. She always says : 'Oh, you are an enigma 
to me. You are a Vauce.' 

Harry felt impelled to laugh as he looked 
into Guyndine's doleful face. He bit his lip, 
and his sympathy for her helped him to over- 
come the impulse. 

"You are the most extraordinary com- 
pound of humors and fancies ever packed 
into a human anatomy,'’ said he, "but I 
think I understand you and I know a way by 
which you may rid yourself of those little 
demons." 

"How? By taking Magdalene's remedy?" 

"Yes." 

"Well, I cannot take it; in all the com- 
plexity of my nature there is not found the 
requisite ingredient to make that remedy 
effective; although my life be embittered by 
the frustration of its dearest hopes, I cannot 
take it. I just cannot have faith and that's all 
there is about it. But all endurance seems 
easy rather that a state of mind in which 
I must admit that I am a slave to that which 
is of the earth earthy." She was in one of 


86 


GUTNDINE, 


her most wretched moods of conscious help- 
lessness. She felt an instinctive shrinking 
from an indefinable force within her, too 
strong for her control. She was penetrated 
with a longing desire to place her foot upon 
her carnal nature and by virtue of her 
own strong will mount to fellowship with the 
Divine. She hated herself when she dis- 
covered anything unrefined in her nature. 


CHAPTER III. 


“Why bowest thou, O soul of mine! 

Crushed by ancestral sin ? 

Thou hast a noble heritagfe 
Which bids thee victory win. 

The tainted past may brin^ forth flower 
As blossomed Aaron’s rod; 

No legacy of sin annuls 
Heredity from God.” 

'‘Aunt Roe, come quick! quick!'' It was 
Guyndine's voice and she was evidently 
frightened. 

"Laws a massy ! What de mattah, honey ?" 

"Where's the camphor?" 

"I don' know, honey, less it on de kitchen 
she'f." 

"Get it quick and bring it to the parlor." . 

"Blessed goodness, I wonder if ole Roe's 
'zentments done come true ? I'se been a 
feelin' like summat gwine to happen, an' las' 
night I hearn a dog a howlin' an' a howlin', 
an' dis mawnin' I shuah put on my stockin' 
on my right foot wrong side outards; I 
bleaves somebody shuah nuff done died." 
Aunt Roe, puffing and blowing, camphor in 
hand and eyes ready to pop out, hastens to 
the parlor as rapidly as it was possible for 


38 


GUTNDINE, 


her to move her two hundred pounds avoir- 
dupois. She found Harry and Guyndine 
chafing the hands and Mrs. Spencer bathing 
the head of a boy about Guyndine’s age, who 
was reclining in an easy chair with head 
thrown back and face which looked as if all 
the blood in his body had surged into it. His 
eyes stared vacantly and he kept swallowing 
and working his lips as if choking. 

''The camphor, quick. Aunt Roe ! I be- 
lieve poor Willie is dying.’' 

"Oh! is is Mistah Willie? No’m, he’s not 
dyin’. Miss Gwynn, he’s not dyin’. I’se seen 
Mistah Willie hab dem spells when he wahn’t 
no longer dan dat.” (Indicating the length on 
her arm.) "But how you all did skeer me! 
I’se shakin’ like ole quaken asp an’ sweatin’ 
like shuah nuff nigger at a big meetin’.” Aunt 
Roe stood looking at Willie for a few mo- 
ments. "Poor chile, de doctor say dar aint 
no cure for dem spells, it some kind ’zease 
he’s born wid. I done forgot de name.” 

Mrs. Spencer shook her head at Aunt Roe 
as the boy opened his eyes and looked about 
him in a dazed way. 

"Are you better now, Willie?” asked Mrs. 
Spencer. 

"I am better, thank you.” After a few 
minutes he rose to his feet. 

"You had better not go yet for awhile, Wil- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


39 


lie, or if you must go, Harry can go with 
you.'' 

''You are very kind but I can go alone. I 
am all right." With an embarrassed air he 
bowed himself out. "Oh, my God !" said he, 
as he left the house, "must I continue to live 
and endure this ! Were it not for the fear of 
incurring Thy displeasure, I would go 
straight to the river and with one plunge end 
it. With this curse weighing me down there 
is nothing in life for me, absolutely nothing. 
God must be a strange being that He would 
place within me high ideals and noble aspira- 
tions, and with such a curse make it impos- 
sible for me to attain them. I wonder why 
it is." He looked up into the clear blue sky. 
"I love Thee, Father, but I cannot under- 
stand Thee." 

"Oh, how dreadful !" said Guyndine as 
Willie Dobson left the house. "It is epi- 
lepsy." 

"It surely cannot be," said Mrs. Spencer. 
"As intimate as we have always been with the 
Dobsons, we would have seen or heard some- 
thing about it before this." 

"I have known it for years," said Harry, 
"but I never spoke of it." 

"Now we must follow Harry's example," 
said Mrs. bpencer. "Roe, you must not 
speak of this." 

"No'm ; you know. Miss Spencer, I 
wouldn't tell nothin' on de Dobsons when 


40 


GUYNDINE, 


I’se born a Dobson long fo’ de wah. Denis 
my white folks ; I neber tells nothin’ on my 
white folks. No niggah eber had a bettah 
massa den ole Massa George, Mistah Wil- 
lie’s grandpa. But I’se always been mad 
wid Mistah Willie’s fadder, cause he marry 
a yankee. She never had a lick ob sense. 
She was all de time mournin’ an’ grievin’ 
cause she say, Mistah Sam didn’t care nothin’ 
’bout her.” 

'‘Roe!” said Mrs. Spencer severely, "I am 
astonished that you will speak of your white 
folks in this disrespectful manner.” 

"Mrs. Spencer, I’se not talkin’ ’bout my 
white folk ; she’s none of my white folks ; my 
white folks all quality an’ she nothin’ but a 
yankee.” 

When Aunt Roe said she would tell noth- 
ing on the Dobsons, she spoke truly. She 
had given her version, but there was another 
side to the story. Samuel Dobson had mar- 
ried a wealthy and cultured New York 
woman with a frail, nervous constitution, 
somewhat exacting and inclined to be jealous. 
He was of the nervous lymphatic tempera- 
ment, exceedingly fickle and fond of women. 
He worshiped at her shrine just long enough, 
to marry her, when he found a new attraction. 
By some mistake a letter which was intended 
for him fell into his wife’s hands, disclosing 
his secret. For months she was in a frenzy, 
and when her son breathed his first breath 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. ^ 4l 

her crushed spirit fluttered out upon the 
breezes of eternity, leaving him motherless 
and afflicted with that dread disease, epilepsy. 
It was a mystery to the family; as far back 
as the oldest member of either family had 
any knowledge there had been no hereditary 
disease. It soon developed that he was a 
musician, with an exceedingly refined and 
sensitive nature, and his affliction was a con- 
tinual source of torture to him. He and 
Harry were close friends and through 
Harry's influence he had become a Christian, 
but Harry had never heard him refer to his 
affliction. 

One day soon after our introduction to 
Willie he said : ‘‘Harry, if God is an impar- 
tial father and loves all His children alike, 
why is it that some are forced into this world 
maimed and afflicted? while others are ush- 
ered into life under such favorable auspices ?" 

“God is not responsible for it," said Harry. 

“How can that be ?" 

“God does not make deformity not intend 
it." 

“Who then is responsible for this nervous 
disease which has cursed me from my birth 
and will curse me to my grave ?" 

“Your progenitors alone. Sin caused it 
and faith can remove it." 

“What do you mean, Harry ?" 

“I mean that the Bible teaches divine heal- 


42 


GUTNDINE, 


ing. There are thousands of people in the 
world today who believe and live by it.’’ 

“Then why do not the churches practice 
it?” 

“Mr. Wesley said 'The Church has fallen 
through unbelief,’ ” said Harry. 

“In what part of the Bible may I find this 
doctrine ?” 

“All through it. If you wish to make a 
close study of the doctrine, I would advise 
that you first satisfy yourself that God does 
not intend His faithful children should be 
sick; you will learn this in Exodus 15:26, 
Psalms 103:3, and Matthew 8:17. That sick- 
ness is the result of sin you will find in 
Deuteronomy 28:22, 27, 28, and John 5:14. 
That miracles of healing continued after 
Christ’s ascension under the dispensation in 
which we live, you will find in Acts 9:6, 7, 
Acts 5:12-16, Acts 8:7, and Acts 28:8, 9; and 
that God’s plan for His people who are sick 
is faith in Him alone, Mark 15:18; Mark 9: 
23; James 5:14, 15.” 

Harry’s words left a deep impression on 
Willie’s mind. For days he pored over the 
Bible. On the 22d of June, the nineteenth 
anniversary of his birth, Willie rose just as 
the sun began to flush the horizon. He 
pushed the window curtain aside and threw 
up the sash. Out of the eastern sky streamed 
a flood of splendor. “Ah ! I am just in time. 
Aurora’s rosy fingers are spreading down 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


43 


the royal colors in the pathway of the king 
of day. See him raise his majestic head to 
look once again over his undisputed domin- 
ion. How magnificent! The world never 
looked so beautiful to me before, because 
hope was never so strong within me. How 
picturesque the avenue of maples with its 
Gothic arch and the blue vista beyond, with 
just a glimpse of the pond which the bright- 
robed king is fast converting into a mass of 
glittering diamonds. Gems of earth, thou art 
wondrous fair. Life, thou art very sweet. 
The road winding down to the city, the 
misty hills in the distance which I used to 
think were the delectable mountains grand- 
ma read to me about. I know now by ex- 
perience what the 'delectable mountains’ are. 
I stand upon their crest, the golden clouds at 
my feet, shining skies above my head and 
Urial’s flame sweeping through my soul.” 

He knelt by the window and entered 
deeper into the "secret of God’s pavilion,” 
till his face shone with his spirit’s exaltation. 
After breakfast he went in search of Harry 
whom he found at home. 

"Hello! old boy, how are you?” asked 
Harry, as they threw themselves on the grass 
in the shade. 

"I am the happiest boy alive, Harry.” 

"How so?” 

"I have been studying divine healing. I 
am convinced, and before the hour of mid- 


44 


GUYNDINE, 


night tolls from yonder tower, I am going 
to be healed/' Harry silently extended his 
hand. ''But who will do the anointing? The 
Bible says, 'Call the elders of the church.' " 

"I know a superannuated minister in the 
south part of town who will do it," said 
Harry, "but he will recommend a day of fast- 
ing and prayer first, and all unkindness must 
be out of your heart." 

"There is nothing but love in my heart," 
said Willie, "and I will fast today. I came 
over to ask you and Miss Guyndine to go 
with me tonight. Do you think she would 
go?" 

"Yes, I am quite sure she will if you re- 
quest it." 

Eight o'clock that evening found them 
seated in the little parlor of the superannuated 
minister. Rev. Brown. He was a finely built 
man about sixty years old, with clear, regu- 
lar features and smooth shaven face. His 
hair was silvered, rather long, and combed 
straight back from his broad forehead. His 
eyes were mild and there was a look of calm- 
ness and power upon his face. His mind was 
a "living fountain stamped with nature's seal" 
to do Jehovah's work, and "he taught truths 
as refined as ever Athens heard." 

Years afterward in describing what trans- 
pired that night Guyndine said: "I can 
never forget the scene. In the center stood 
the grand silver-haired saint. Willie, with 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


45 


elapsed hands and face shining like an angel’s, 
knelt at his feet. Kneeling beside him with 
one arm linked through his and a face which 
looked almost Christ-like in its sweetness, 
was Harry, beautiful Harry, who might have 
passed for a kneeling Apollo, and was as per- 
fect in form and feature as the celebrated 
statue in the Vatican at Rome. On the 
other side of the preacher, upon her knees 
with elapsed hands and face turned heaven- 
ward, was his sweet wife. The tender face 
of the full moon looked down through the 
open window, and threw her silvery veil over 
the picture ; and floating in on the summer air 
came the magnolia’s breath, mingled with 
the rippling notes of the mocking-bird. Add 
to this the low-keyed deep-toned voice of the 
man of God. ''Oh, Thou that boldest in Thy 
spacious hand the destinies of men; Thou 
whose wisdom sways the universe, whose 
love and pity passeth that of woman; Spirit, 
whose all sustaining presence fills boundless 
space. Maker, Preserver, Redeemer; Thou 
knowest what our wants require, and why we 
are bowed before Thee, and as Moses of old 
pled for the healing of Miriam, as Hezekiah 
prayed for his restoration from sickness, we 
now plead for the healing of this Thy servant, 
in the name of Him who Himself took our 
infirmities, and bore our sickness, in the name 
of Him who said, 'These signs shall follow 
them that believe, in my name. * * * * They 


46 


GUYNDINE, 


shall lay hands on the sick and they shall 
recover/ Lord, we believe, and we know by 
past experience that when we have met Thy 
requirements, we are not allowed to lie in 
the dust with prayers unanswered; and, in 
obedience to the divinne command, we 
anoint this afflicted one in the name of the 
Great Physician, Jesus of Nazareth. And 
now, Willie, as thou dost trust God, so will 
healing come to thy afflicted body, and may 
the blessings of Almighty God, the divine 
author of our faith, rest upon and abide with 
thee, now and evermore. Amen.^ 

''All were silent; the beautiful tableau re- 
mained as motionless as if carved in marble. 
Again was heard the soft twittering of the 
mocking-bird, and the mangolia tree, as if in 
benediction, shed a fresh shower of perfume 
upon the air. But hark! the low, sweet 
voice of Willie is heard. 'Father of mercy, 
my whole being is filled with ecstatic joy. I 
know I am healed. My soul o'erfraught with 
delight, has no words to express my grati- 
tude; language utterly fails. Behold my 
heart.' 

"I stood with bated breath and watched 
this scene, one of the most impressive I ever 
witnessed. I was filled with awe; to the in- 
nermost recesses of my being, I was thrilled 
with a sense of an unseen presence. I seemed 
to hear it whispered on the evening breeze, 
'Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.' I was deeply 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


47 


convicted of sin, my unbelief was forever 
gone. My soul seemed to cry out ‘J^sus of 
Nazareth, have mercy on me.' I sank upon 
my knees, and for the first time in my life I 
I realized that Christ was something more 
than a myth, and that I stood face to face 
with His crucified form. I felt the touch of 
divine fingers sweeping my spirit's lyre, and 
a peace which passeth all understanding took 
possession of my soul. This event marked 
a new epoch in my life ; from that hour I was 
a changed being; I could now hand in hand 
with Harry and Willie traverse paths and ex- 
plore labyrinths which before were all 
unknown to me, and my soul vied with Wil- 
lie's in its ecstatic joy." 


CHAPTER IV. 

“Kach life imparts one lesson, each supplies 
one priceless secret that it holds within. In your 
own heart — there alone— stands the prize.*’ 

It was a Sunday morning in July; one of 
the mornings when it was unsafe to cross the 
Squire’s pathway. His evil genius invariably 
made its advent on the first day of the week. 
The Squire had had a bad night of it ; he was 
all out of sorts. The heat was intense. 
Throughout the entire night the mosquitoes 
had held a concert and high carnival in his 
room in which they served lunch at intervals 
at his expense; the intervals were so close 
together and the Squire was kept so busy 
helping to entertain his guests, that morning 
found him all worn out. The bite of a mos- 
quito was very poisonous to him, and on 
this morning he had the appearance of having 
just emerged from a hornets’ nest. He was 
literally covered with hard red blotches, his 
eyes were blood-shot, his nose was twice its 
natural size, one eye was swollen almost shut. 
One of his guests had evidently been sipping 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 49 

the necter frpm his upper lip, and had left 
upon it a sign of her appreciation of his 
sweetness about the size of a hazelnut, which 
made one corner turn up, giving it the ex- 
pression of a vicious dog when he is ready to 
snap ; while the opposite corner of his mouth 
had a forlorn droop. Viewing him from the 
side of the swollen eye, one was led to feel 
that condolence was in order, and to wonder 
which one of his family had died during the 
night; but passing round to the other side 
the aspect was altogether changed, and so 
diabolical was the expression which the 
curled upper lip and red nose gave to that 
side of his face you felt at once that he did 
not deserve your sympathy and had probably 
spent the night in some down town place 
where he had gotten the worst of it. If he 
had taken his wife’s advice and not persisted 
in keeping a light in his room for hours be- 
fore retiring he would have escaped all this,, 
but he had rather fight mosquitoes than take 
her advice. He might have his weaknesses 
but they did not consist in taking a woman’s 
advice, especially this woman’s. A woman’s 
advice was well enough sometimes, but the 
trouble was if you began to take it, she would 
expect you to continue, and it would be a 
question of but a short time till, like Xan- 
tippe, she would run you under the bed with 

G-4 


50 


GUYNDINE, 


the broom, and not allow you to come out till, 
like Socrates Snooks, you said, ''May we put 
on our Sunday breeches?'’ 

The Squire took a tour of inspection 
around the place every Sunday morning. 
Aunt Roe said, "Dat am de mawnin’ he hab 
de ole boy in him as big as a boss ; it am his 
mawnin’ to come prowlin' roun' de kitchen, 
pokin' his nose in de slop, an' whahevah he 
nevah hab no business, tellin' me I trows out 
mo' in de slop den ten niggers could tote in 
a bushel basket. He know I nebah does 
nothin' de sort, he jes' tryin' to hectah. I 
gits mighty tired ob it. I wishes he'd git de 
reflamitary rheumatis so bad he couldn't git 
his ole feet to de floah, deed I does." 

His evil genius, besides always making his 
advent on the first day of the week, was an 
early riser, and this July morning he was 
astir earlier than usual. The good bye kisses 
of his departing guests proved too much for 
his emotional nature. With a demoniac yell 
"Fury and blue blazes !" he lit on the floor 
just as day was breaking ; he ground his teeth 
in rage and sat down to wait for daylight. He 
entertained himself the while by viciously 
clutching at the air and slapping himself right 
and left. As soon as it was light he stood 
before the mirror viewing his disfigured 
visage. There was an ominous scowl on his 
face which grew darker as he gazed. He had 
quite forgotten that he professed to be a 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


51 


Christian, and his evil genius was whispering 
all sorts of aggravating things in his ear. 
‘'Confound the blamed things, Fm afire all 
over.^’ He crossed the hall to his wife’s room 
and made it a point to make as much noise 
as possible. She suddenly opened her eyes 
and gave a frightened little shriek as she saw 
a hideous face looking down upon her. 

“What’s the matter with you ?” snapped the 
Squire with a look of disgust. She raised on 
her elbow, looked at him for a moment, and 
fell back convulsed with laughter. 

“Will you answer me?” yelled he at the 
top of his voice, “what ails you?” 

“Look in the glass, and don’t ask me,” 
gasped she, almost smothering with laughter. 
“I never saw such a fright on earth; if you 
don’t leave the room I shall die.” 

“Good heavens! Fanny, are you a fool? 
Must I be devoured by those imps of dark- 
ness and then be a laughing stock for my 
family ?” He stalked out of the room knock- 
ing a chair over as he went and slammed the 
door behind him. Hatless and coatless, 
scowling and growling he went the rounds, 
declaring that no man ever had a more de- 
structive family; everything was going to 
rack, the servants were a pack of driveling 
idiots, not worth powder to blow them up, 
and if he had not sprung from a family of 
natural-born financiers he would have been 
bankrupt long ago. He pitched his voice 


52 


GUYNDINE, 


high for his wife’s benefit, which had the de- 
sired effect and acted upon her nerves like 
an electric shock, bringing her out of bed and 
into her dressing gown and slippers in a 
trice. 

“I wants to be a angel, an’ wid de angels stan’, 
A crown upon my fo’head, a harp widin my 
han’.” 

Aunt Roe sang at the top of her voice to 
keep from hearing what the Squire was say- 
ing. 

“An’ thah, befo’ my — ’’ 

''Roe !” yelled the Squire, "you ill-mannerly 
coon, stop that clatter when I am talking.” 

Looking up she caught sight of his disfig- 
ured visage, made doubly hideous by his ill 
temper. It was well for her that he did not 
see the broad grin that spread over her sable 
features. "Lawsey, I wonder who done hit 
him ! Tse mighty glad, he-he-he-he.” 

After having kindled a spark of satan in 
the breast of each of the servants, he hissed 
the cat, scolded the dog, and wended his way 
back up the stairs. After fumbling awhile in 
his room, he splashed for a few minutes in 
the bath-tub, after which he entered his 
wife’s room; going to the dressing case he 
began to pull things out and search through 
the drawers. 

"Don’t tumble things up so in that drawer, 
Mr. Spencer. What are you looking for?” 

"I am looking for a pair of socks that 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


53 


haven’t holes in the heels as big as my head,” 
snapped he. ‘'If I had a wife to look after — ” 

“There are your socks on the back of that 
chair where I hung them to air.” He looked 
crestfallen and disappointed, and as he 
could think of no remark which would just 
suit the occasion, he was seized with a fit of 
coughing — and such a cough — it was a re- 
serve force which he always brought into 
requisition under trying circumstances ; it 
was his own peculiar invention, and ther^ was 
never another like it. It was as harsh, nerve- 
splitting, and confusing as the braying of a 
mule or the rasping of a buzz saw, and he had 
never been known to get through the exer- 
cise in less than three minutes. 

Mrs. Spencer’s patience was worn thread- 
bare and that cough was the finishing straw. 
“I wish, Mr. Spencer, you could get along 
one Sunday morning without a tantrum; I 
dread to'see Sunday morning come. And to 
think a man with common sense, to say noth- 
ing of one who professes to be a gentleman, 
will get upon the house-top and proclaim to 
the neighbors the faults of his family. You 
ought to be ashamed of yourself.” 

“What do I care who knows what kind of 
a family I have? Its no worse for the 
neighbors to know it than for me to know it.” 

“Your family is a credit to you and you 


54 


GUYNDINE, 


know it, and, Mr. Spencer, they are a thou- 
sand times better than you deserve.’' 

''Oh ! I know, Fanny, I don’t deserve any- 
thing to let you tell it, nothing but to be hen- 
pecked, and, madam, that is something you 
can’t do with a Spencer. You have tried it 
often enough; you ought to know by this 
time that it won’t work.” 

"How far back did the Spencers take de- 
light in disgracing their wives and children,” 
retorted Mrs. Spencer. "A man who is brute 
enough to do such a thing is not worthy the 
name of man. It is a foul bird that will soil 
its own nest.” 

"Fanny, do you dare to call me a brute or 
foul bird ? Do you know who you are talking 
to?” 

"Oh, yes, its only a snob.” Turning she 
got a full view of his face and burst into a 
laugh. 

This was more than human nature 
could endure; he became white with fury. 
"If I am a snob, take that.” He slapped her in 
the face, rushed out of the room and slammed 
the door behind him. 

Next to Squire Spencer’s inordinate pride 
that he was a Spencer was his pride of his 
wife and children. He was an affectionate 
husband and father, and provided luxuries 
with lavish hand. He was never known to 
strike one of his servants except for impu- 
dence, and when in his fits of fury he kicked 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


55 


the cat, he grieved over it in secret. The 
neighbors understood perfectly well that the 
Squire was proud of his family. He was 
looked upon as a good husband, though 
fractious, and one who required to be dealt 
with carefully. He would not for worlds have 
anyone outside of his own family hear him 
say anything detrimental of them; his 
grounds were large and there was little 
danger of being overheard if he did talk in a 
high key, and while he loved his wife she ag- 
gravated him, and he took delight in teasing 
her. 

Mrs. Spencer possessed neither tact nor 
fine perception, and her husband was at 
times as great an enigma to her as was her 
daughter. 

Guyndine’s room joined her mother’s and 
she had been an unwilling listener to what 
had just transpired, which was a repetition of 
what she had heard many times. These 
scenes were so revolting to her that each 
time she felt she could never endure another. 
When she descended to breakfast there was 
a deep flush on her face and a determined 
look in her eyes. She held in her hand an 
envelope addressed to '‘Judge A. J. Kahree, 
Hotel Grande.” 

"Aunt Roe, give this to Jeff and tell him 
to deliver it at once. Mamma will not be 
down to breakfast, she is not feeling well.” 

There was no one at the table but Harry 


56 


GUTNDINE, 


and the twins, Bob and Zoe. The Squire had 
gone to the hotel for breakfast. Guyndine 
and Harry ate in silence ; both felt depressed. 
They exchanged glances of sympathy, each 
felt sorry for the other, and both were sorry 
for the twins; but here silence was golden; 
it was a subject they could not discuss with- 
out admitting the faults of their parents and 
they were too refined for that. 

After breakfast Guyndine went to the par- 
lor. Harry’s eyes followed her as she left the 
room; the expression in her face made him 
uneasy. 


CHAPTER V. 


Guyndine's carriage was superb, her close- 
fitting white dress was the perfection of art 
and simplicity. Her bright auburn hair was 
combed high and the soft fluffy coil was held 
in place by a white jeweled comb of rare 
workmanship. She wore no other ornament 
save a bunch of sweet violets. 

Soon after she entered the parlor Judge 
A. J. Kahree was ushered in. ''You see I am 
prompt,’’ said he. "It is one of my character- 
istics ; but if it were not I should have come 
promptly this time.” 

Three months ago he had stood in this 
room and made her a formal offer of his hand 
and fortune, which to his surprise, she kindly 
though firmly refused, telling him she did not 
love him. To say he was surprised does not 
express it ; he was amazed. He had long ago 
made up his mind that no woman could re- 
sist him. He was a man of distinguished 
figure, with dark hair and eyes and dressed 
with exquisite elegance. He had a pleasant 
voice and quiet manner; he 'was a leader 
among men and accustomed to move in the 
most refined society. He was aware that he 


58 


GUTNDINE, 


was considered a great catch, and while he 
had flirted for years and broken the hearts of 
a score of women, this was his first offer 
of marriage. This girl was a mere child 
and he an experienced man of the world. 
Years ago he had looked upon women as 
somewhat mysterious, but of late years he 
had come to look upon them as transparent, 
possessing little variety. Was it possible he 
had found a new specimen? He was in- 
terested, and began to study her, with a 
view to classifying her. He soon discovered 
that she possessed a strong character, was 
womanly, and he saw that in her, which told 
him her fidelity would be ^^changeless as the 
green on the ivy leaf,'’ constant as the stars, 
and he had rather possess the love of such a 
woman than be crowned the most imperial 
of monarchs. 

Guyndine was one of those persons who 
possess that invincible magnetic power which 
draws every living thing to herself. Her 
eyes held that wistful, pathetic, appealing 
gaze, sometimes seen in the eyes of dumb 
animals, which moves our tenderest emotions 
of pity. 

Judge Kahree did not realize the depth of 
the admiration which was stirring his soul 
till she assured him that the embracing 
tendrils of her heart refused to clasp his 
proffered love. Then it was that an insati- 
able longing, to possess her filled him. To 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


5D 


be thwarted was a new experience. Here- 
tofore, his wealth had made it possible for 
him to indulge every whim and now that 
his wealth possessed no persuasive power 
and he saw that mercenary motives had no 
place in her bosom, his love rose to fever 
heat. The past three months had been a 
period of unrest. 

Guyndine’s note to him was as follows : 

Spencer Place, July lo, i8 . 

Judge Kahree: — Will you kindly call at 
Spencer Place at your earliest convenience. 
I have something to say which I cannot 
write. Guyndine Vauce. 

When the Judge read the note, his heart 
beat high with hope. What else could she 
have to say? He lost no time, but, calling a 
cab, was soon standing in her presence. 

As he entered the room she rose. He ad- 
vanced and extended his hand. As she 
placed her soft fingers in his open palm, a 
peculiar thrill swept through every nerve of 
his being. He would fain have held it and 
enjoyed for a moment the new sensation, 
but she at once drew it away. His eyes 
swept her face with a quick, searching glance 
and the wings of hope mounted higher. 
With averted eyes and the color fluctuating 
in her face, she motioned him to a chair and 
seated herself by the open window. In ex- 
pectant suspense, with his eyes riveted on 
her face, he sat waiting for her to speak. 


60 


GUYNDINE, 


She was evidently laboring under great em- 
barrassment. He observed the lips part as 
if to speak, quiver, and close again without 
uttering a sound. After what seemed an age, 
with a shy, half frightened glance toward 
him, she said: ''Will you kindly excuse me 
from telling you why I sent for you ? It was 
one of my impulsive acts, and I am sorry I 
did it. I wish I did not have this impulsive 
nature; it so often leads me astray.’^ 

His heart sank like lead. "No, Miss 
Guyndine, I will do nothing of the kind; I 
insist on knowing why you sent for me.” 
Again she was silent and again she flashed 
him a half frightened glance; in that quick 
glance she read in his face an expression 
which surprised and aroused her sympathy. 

"Well, I am waiting,” said the Judge. She 
covered her face with her hands. "Miss 
Guyndine, I cannot understand this ; tell me, 
what does it mean?” Aft§r a moment she 
raised her head and drawing a long breath 
said pleadingly, "I cannot tell you ; excuse 
me, I beg.” 

"Miss Vauce, I cannot excuse you, let me 
repeat, I insist on knowing what that note 
meant.” 

"Then answer me this,” said she. "Has 
your mind undergone any material change 
since — in the last — three months regarding 
myself?” 

"Yes, one cannot live three months un- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


61 


changed.’’ She flashed him a quick glance 
and her face colored. He continued: “My 
love for you has had many links of strength 
added to it within three months. I realize 
more and more that life without you will be 
a dreary waste. Love to a man of my tem- 
perament and experience means something. I 
came here this morning full of hope that you 
had reconsidered, and that possibly you 
could love me after all. Am I again doomed 
to disappointment ?” 

There was another pause in which her 
fingers nervously toyed with the handker- 
chief in her lap. “I fear I have acted un- 
wisely,” said she, “I sent for you while under 
a high tension of excitement. I do not 
know how to express what I wish to say.” 

“Was it because you thought there might 
be hope that you could love me ?” 

■ “I do not know that there is, but I thought 
by longer association with you, if you would 
give me time, perhaps — ” 

“You might learn to do so; is that it?” 
She silently bowed assent. “Miss Guyndine, 
I do not ask to know the reason for this 
change in you. I have implicit confidence in 
your integrity and I will prove it by asking 
no questions, and you shall have all the time 
you require. This is a renewal of a cherished 
hope which even now I scarcely dare to en- 
tertain after the long, cold silence of the last 
three months and your words have fallen 


62 


GUYNDINE, 


into sorrow’s cup like precious pearls, shed- 
ding a radiance of hope in my heart — so 
slender ’tis true, that I am reminded of 
Wordworth’s lines: 

Hopes, what are they? Beads of morning 
Strung on slender blades of grass. 

Or a spider’s web adorning, 

In some straight and treacherous pass. 

Although I am nearly thirty-five years old 
and have been closely associated with women 
from my boyhood, you are the only woman 
who has ever touched my heart. There are 
few men perhaps who can say this ; most 
men have experiences along this line quite 
early in life, and they are expected at my age 
to have outlived this tender emotion, but 
with me years and experience adds to its 
strength, and though my cup of love has 
abounded with gall rather than honey, it has 
lifted me into a purer atmosphere ; A young 
girl, sheltered as you have been, cannot per- 
haps understand how refreshing to a man of 
the world is a glimpse of artless simplicity 
and sincerity when embodied in woman; 
neither do you know of the traps and tempta- 
tions which, even in what is termed the best 
society, surround men, nor how hard it is 
for them to resist.” 

She started, caught her breath, and lean- 
ing forward looked him straight in the eyes. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


63 


''But you have not fallen? you are morally 
pure? you have been true to yourself?” 

His eyes fell, and his face flushed scarlet. 
The question was so unexpected, it found 
him off guard. Seeing his embarrassment, 
and realizing her own youth and inexper- 
ience, she thought perhaps such a question 
from so young a girl to a man of his age 
sounded pert and indelicate. Her face col- 
ored and she said, "I beg pardon if this'^is im- 
proper.” 

"There is no impropriety,” said he, clear- 
ing his throat which seerned dry and husky; 
"but if I had been immoral, I would probably 
be base enough to deny it, so after all it is 
a matter of simple faith. Will you trust me, 
Guyndine ?” 

"Yes, I will believe what you say. If you 
tell me you have been true, I will not doubt it. 
I am sure you are not depraved enough to 
look me in the face and say you are pure 
when you are not. But, oh, I could never, 
never love you if — ” 

During the next few minutes Judge Kah- 
ree’s mind endured a fiery ordeal. This 
was one of the severest trials of his life. 
Truth and love were fighting a mighty bat- 
tle which no eye but God’s could see. He 
was a man who regarded deliberate false- 
hood in its true light, whose honor among 
men was unimpeachable, whose word was sel- 
dom doubted. His fine eyes wandered past 


64 


GUYNDINE, 


her out into the grove. He repressed a ris- 
ing sigh in time so that she did not notice it. 
The color slowly faded from his face. After 
a silence of some minutes his eyes returned 
to her face in which he saw a look of wonder. 
With a quick motion and a voice full of pain, 
he caught both her hands and held them 
close to his breast. “My darling, there are 
no 'if’s’; will you trust me now and believe 
that the one aim and object of my life shall 
be to be worthy of you?’’ Without waiting 
for her reply he dropped her hands, and ris- 
ing, went to the window and stood with his 
back to her for several minutes. She did 
not suspect how his soul was stirred within 
him, but his manner made her fear that she 
had offended him. When he turned his face 
was calm but very serious. “Did you say 
you would trust me?” said he. 

“Yes, I will never doubt you now.” 

After he had left her, Guyndine sat for a 
long time in deep reverie. “I wonder if I 
have done wrong? I am afraid I have, but 
how could I endure this life any longer?” 
mused she, “and what if I fail to love him? 
but I must not, I dare not fail now. It 
would mean something terrible to him, he is 
deeply in earnest.” After sitting for a long 
time with a far away look in her eyes, she 
said : “Oh ! of course I can love him. First 
of all he is morally pure, and he stands head 
and shoulders above ordinary men intellect- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 65 

ually. I am sure he is handsome and refined 
enough to satisfy the most fastidious. How 
I wish I could tell Harry all about it and get 
his advice.’’ Another long silence in which 
there was no sound in the room except the 
nervous little pat, pat, of her foot upon the 
floor. '‘Yes, I can learn to love him, of 
course I can. I will and that’s all there is 
about it.” 

She was somewhat exercised over her im- 
pulsive, and, as she supposed, improper 
speech to the Judge. "I am afraid he will 
think me coarse. He was very much em- 
barrassed and blushed like a girl. Perhaps 
it was because he thought I doubted his 
chastity; but I don’t; I never thought of 
such a thing. I am sure I can’t imagine 
whatever made me say that to him; but I 
didn’t mean any harm, and I never could 
love him if I didn’t know he had been true.” 

Her pure unsuspecting mind conceded 
virtue to the majority of men ; it was the ex- 
ceptional one who had gone astray, and her 
mother argued that it was invariably the 
fault of women. 

She rose with a sigh and went to her 
mother’s room. She sat down in a low chair 
by the window. "Mamma, I came to tell 
you that I have decided to try to love Judge 
Kahree. I think I shall succeed; if I do, I 
shall marry him.” Guyndine was one of 
those straight-forward persons who never ar- 


66 


GUYNDINE, 


range a preamble nor preface what they have 
to say. She continued: ''I must be a pe- 
culiar girl or I should have loved him nat- 
urally, for since I have opened my eyes and 
begun to study him, I cannot see a flaw in 
him. He has always been attractive to me in 
a sense, and I cannot imagine why I did not 
fall in love with him.'' 

Mrs. Spencer looked up from the book she 
was reading, and the sad expression on her 
face changed to one of delight. “Oh, I am 
so glad that you have reconsidered; this is 
a wise step, my child." 

“I am not so sure of its wisdom," said 
Guyndine. “One reason alone prompts me 
to take it. Life in this home has become 
umbearable, and you will not allow me to 
leave it unmarried. Such a life is not only 
humiliating but demoralizing. There was a 
time when it made me feel murderous, like 
some pent up wild animal and I wanted to 
throttle something. I have at the midnight 
hour walked the floor with clenched hands, 
forced to listen to that which filled my soul 
with disgust and loathing and before my 
conversion I was tempted at times to com- 
mit suicide." 

“Hush, Guyndine, you frighten me; did 
you ever have such reckless feelings as 
these?" 

“Yes, and I am fighting those very feel- 
ings this morning. I feel reckless and a few 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


67 


more months of this will drive me — I 
know not where. 

“But, Guyndine, you must not give way 
to those feelings ; it is very wicked. You 
must control yourself. God will 

“Mamma, will you kindly leave God out of 
this? God and the atmosphere of this home 
are so diametrically opposite in every char- 
acteristic that it seems to me a sacrilege 
even to mention them in the same connec- 
tion.'' 

Both were silent for a time ; at length Mrs. 
Spencer said: “Judge Kahree is a gentle- 
man of the highest type. I feel that I can 
give you into his hands with perfect safety, 
and his name will do us all honor ; I feel very 
happy over the prospect." 

“You do not seem to feel much concern 
as to whether I can love him." 

“Oh, that emotion commonly called love 
is only a sickly sentimentalism. It is neither 
the result of reason nor common sense, but 
rather the fantastic day-dream of a frail mind. 
I have been married twice and I am sure the 
regard I had for my. husbands was all a wife 
need to feel. That other sentiment you talk 
about and that poets and madmen rave about 
is nothing but passion of the lowest order." 

“Oh, mamma ! you exasperate me," and 
with face ablaze with indignation .she left the 
room, slamming the door behind her. Be- 
fore she reached the bottom of the stairs she 


68 


GUYNDINE, 


was sorry, and ashamed of her rudeness. Re- 
membering that her mother was not down 
to breakfast, she went to the kitchen. 

''Aunt Roe, have you taken mamma her 
breakfast 

"No'm, she can’t nebah eat no breakfas^ 
when she got one her headaches.” 

"She is feeling better now; fix it and I will 
take it up.” 

A few minutes later, bearing a tray on 
which was a cup of coffee and a dainty break- 
fast, Guyndine knocked at the door of her 
mother’s room. This was her acknowledg- 
ment intended as apologetic of her improper 
conduct. 

"Thank you, dear,” said Mrs. Spencer, 
"you are very kind and thoughtful. I was 
feeling the need of some nourishment but I 
did not care to go down for fear the servants 
would notice my face; it is red and swollen, 
isn’t it?” Guyndine blushed, passed out and 
closed the door without replying. 

"How can mamma bring herself to refer to 
these things, even to me ?” soliloquized Guyn- 
dine as she hurried to her room. "To take 
part in such a scene as that this morning 
would kill me; oh, it would kill me! Poor 
mamma, I pity her, but she is as much to 
blame as he, and she thinks there is love 
enough there. The servants indeed I and the 
neighbors! but the children are welcome 
to know all about it. Oh, if they could but 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


G9 


know how it lessens our respect for them ! 
but the only alternative is to get away from 
it. It is useless to multiply words over it; I 
have tried that and all to no purpose.'' She 
closed and locked the door of her room, and 
threw herself upon her knees by the bed. Her 
flushed face which wore a disconsolate ex- 
pression rested against the cool counterpane. 
She felt like one who in desert wilds in mid- 
night gloom, has lost his way, and realizing 
his failing strength and exhausted resources, 
turns God-ward. ''Oh, Father! all else have 
failed me; I have come to Thee. If I have 
made a mistake overrule it for good; and, 
oh, let me be the only sufferer I" 

Only a part of that short prayer was ever 
answered. It is almost impossible for us 
to live in this world and suffer alone. 

That evening when Harry returned from 
the afternoon service, he found Guyndine 
seated on the lawn with a book. He took 
his seat near her, but she was so deep in her 
book that she did not seem to notice him. 
He had his Bible and for a time they both 
read in silence. At length she raised her 
head with a look of disgust, "Oh, horrors I 
how could she?" 

"What is it?" queried Harry. 

"Oh, it is Lancelot and Guinevere. How 
I do despise her ! How could she turn from 
such a superb man as Arthur to a vile liber- 
tine like Lancelot?" After a moment she 


70 


GUYNDINE, 


said in an absent-minded way as if talking to 
herself : ''I imagine he looked like Judge 

Kahree/' 

‘'Which one?’' asked Harry. 

“Oh ! Arthur, of course.” She turned her 
head slightly and as she raised her eyes she 
looked full into the eyes of Judge Kahree 
who was standing a few feet away, leaning 
against a tree with face expressive of keen 
pain. 

Guyndine dropped her book and took a 
step toward him. “You are ill?” said she in- 
quiringly. 

“No,” replied he, “only a little weary. The 
heat is enervating and I have taken a longer 
walk than usual.” 

He took a seat near Guyndine. After a 
few minutes Harry rose with a sigh and left 
them. For some reason neither seemed in- 
clined to talk; twilight shadows gathered 
and the moon rose throwing her silvery 
sheen over two silent figures. The 
silence was broken by Aunt Roe 
bearing a small round table and a 
vase of roses, followed by Jeff with a large 
tray filled with dainties. Aunt Roe placed 
the table near them, spread a snowy damask 
and placed the vase of roses in the center and 
proceeded to surround it with dainties 
from the tray. First came a plate of sliced 
boiled ham, a bottle of mustard, a dish of 
sliced tomatoes, fried potatoes a la Saratoga, 
a dish of cottage cheese, piled with whipped 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


71 


cream, preserved damsons, cake, and last 
but not least, a plate of Aunt Roe's delicious 
beaten biscuit. 

As the servants withdrew they seated 
themselves at the table in silence. She 
poured and handed him a glass of iced tea. 

''And so," said he, "you admire King 
Arthur and detest Lancelot. Yet Lancelot 
was what the world terms a nobleman. But 
past history shows that neither kings' blood, 
nor crowns and scepters, make noblemen. It 
is principle alone that raises men above the 
brute level. The infidel insists that it is 
reason ; but without impulses from a deeper 
source, neither reason nor genius can elevate 
men one iota. We have many examples of 
some of the finest intellects the world has 
ever known, who lived beastly lives and died 
brute deaths, and left the world worse for 
having lived in it; ‘For a man cannot live 
unto himself, nor die unto himself.' But, my 
innocent girl, you have little idea of how 
few 'Arthurs' there are in the world." 

"Then I am to be congratulated," said she, 
"that I have won the regard of a character 
so rare." 

Judge Kahree's face looked very sad and 
he made no reply. "I am as full of flaws as 
an unfledged bird is of pin-feathers," said 
she, "but if anything upon earth could con- 
vert me into a veritable Amelia it would be 


72 


GUYNDINE, 


the love of a man like Arthur. He is my per- 
fect ideal.'' 

Judge Kahree sighed. ''What was that?" 
said she, looking into his face; "a sigh?" 

"Yes," replied he with a low laugh. "I 
am afraid King Arthur holds a sovereignty 
in your heart which I cannot outrival ; unless 
I institute a 'Round Table' or find a mi- 
raculous stone from which I can 'unfix an 
Excalibar.' It is evident that unless I can 
successfully personate Arthur I shall fail to 
win you." 

The wistful dark eyes looked into his. "To 
personate means to counterfeit." 

His eyes fell, and his face again grew ser- 
ious. "Guyndine, do you yet doubt me ?" 

"Oh, no, not for a moment, but I thought 
the word personate did not express the ex- 
act idea you wished to convey. I beg pardon. 
Mamma has been trying for years to teach 
me to think twice before I speak but it 
seems an impossibility. It is well for me that 
she did not hear the remark, she would have 
said, 'Why, Guyndine, I am absolutely horri- 
fied that my daughter has no more culture 
than to call to account one of her guests on 
his language.' " The Judge laughed, for she 
imitated her mother exactly. 

After this assurance, he was so brilliant 
that Guyndine wondered she had not sooner 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


73 


discovered what an irresistible charm he 
possessed. 

As soon as the Judge had gone, Harry 
sought Guyndine. She was sitting in the 
moonlight where he had left her. “Guyn- 
dine/' said he, “ every temptation is a bene-* 
factor, if we make it a victory." 

“Yes, I know it, I know it, Harry." 

“Since your conversion," continued Harry, 
“your character is developing rapidly. I 
have watched your silent daily battles with 
self, and have been delighted with the result ; 
but somehow I am afraid that today's 
temptations have taxed you heavily." 

“Oh, Harry! don't talk so or you will 
break my heart, for I am all unstrung this 
evening." Her voice trembled and she 
turned her face away. “The shadows are 
deep about me tonight." 

“Be careful, sister, that you do not take a 
step in the dark." 

Guyndine did not reply. After a momen- 
tary silence, she asked : “Do you think that 
true marriages are foreordained? No, that 
is not what I want to ask either. Do you 
think that true love will recognize its mate 
at first sight and that no other love is genu- 
ine or do you think love may be cultivated? 
that we may grow into it, or force it ?" 

Harry did not reply at once but stood 
meditating; at length he said: “Well, really, 
I don't know. I have not given the subject 


74 


GUTNDINE, 


much thought. I should think though it 
would be impossible to force love into an 
unnatural channel. A person of strong will 
with a visionary and confiding nature might 
succeed in working up a spurious sentiment 
which would pass in their imagination for 
genuine love ; and if nothing ever occurred 
to break a ripple in the stream all might be 
well. But why do you ask?” He looked 
straight into her eyes. 

''Oh, I just happened to be thinking along 
that line,” said she with a light laugh. "I am 
in my twentieth year; it is time I gave the 
subject some consideration.” 

There was a long silence which was broken 
by Harry. "Sister, what are you going to do 
with Judge Kahree?” 

"What am I going to do with him? I 
don’t know that I am obliged to do anything 
with him. I am not his guardian. If you 
have doubts about him being capable of tak- 
ing care of himself, perhaps you had better 
consult the probate judge.” Her tone was 
light and bantering. 

Harry’s face wore a look of sadness and 
deep concern. He stood leaning against a 
tree nervously twirling his watch chain. 
There were two little lines on his forehead 
which were there only when he was troubled 
or perplexed. He understood Guyndine per- 
fectly. He knew why she had sent for Judge 
Kahree and what her light, reckless mood 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


75 


portended. He read in the deep gray eyes 
the grief which she dare not express even to 
him. 

''Guyndine, are you going to marry Judge 
Kahree?^^ 

She looked into his face for a rhoment, and 
again laughed that peculiar little forced 
laugh which always grated on his ear. ''Well, 
if you must know, I joined him this morning 
on probation, and I even went so far as to go 
into the dust of humiliation and ask him to 
take me. Now what do you think of that?’' 
said she, with another little ringing laugh. 

'Do you mean that you are engaged to 
Judge Kahree?" 

"Perhaps it may amount to that." 

"I beg pardon, sister; you know I am 
not asking these questions from curiosity, but 
I must ask you one more. Do you love 
him?" 

Guyndine possessed a high sense of honor ; 
she felt that she now ow^ed the Judge an 
allegiance, and her loyalty would not permit 
her to disclose even to Harry the state of 
her mind. She had been prompted by a sense 
of duty to tell her mother, but she was 
sorry she had^ and had decided to never 
mention the subject again, except to the 
Judge. So she evaded the question. 

"I am surprised, Harry, to hear you ask 
such a question, after so often having heard 
me express myself on the subject of love 


76 


GUYNDINE, 


and matrimony. I shall never marry any 
man without love, you may be sure of that. 
You know with me marriage will be no light 
thing. I look upon it as a sacrament whose 
solemnity reaches into eternity, and that it 
is indissoluble except by an act of God. Do 
you think I could take such vows lightly V 

‘'I hope not, sister.’’ 

‘'Harry, you are such a funny, antiquated 
boy. You make me laugh sometimes, al- 
though I owe to you all I am or ever expect 
to be.” 

“To God, Guyndine, to God.” 

“Yes, to God first, for if it had not been 
for His goodness I should never had you. 
One day you said to me, Tt is not true that 
the hand that rocks the cradle rules the 
world; the conditions which rule the world 
are back of the cradle. It is the hand which 
was plighted in a celestial troth according to 
the ethics taught by the Bible, that may rock 
a cradle whose occupant shall rule the world. 
A perfect child with a mind which may be 
swayed by precept and example, does not 
spring into existence in opposition to all law, 
as did the fabled Minerva from the Head of 
Jove.’ This set me to thinking and I began 
the study of a subject on which I had never 
before thought, and, Harry, there is no dan- 
ger now and when you see my hand bestowed 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


77 


in marriage, bear in mind the recording angel 
is at work.” 

‘'You know, Guyndine,” said Harry, “As a 
rule I am not superstitious, but somehow I 
now have a foreboding of evil; I cannot tell 
from whence it comes, or why it is, but my 
heart sickens within me at the thought of this 
marriage. It may be because of the knowl- 
edge that it will take you out of my life. I 
do not know how I shall live without you.” 
His voice grew husky, and he looked away. 

“You are not going to live without me. If 
I marry Judge Kahree, you will go and live 
in our home. You have chosen the law as 
your profession, and you can read law with 
him. I will arrange this in due time. It 
would be a Herculean task for me to be good 
without your help.” 

“You must draw your strength from a 
higher source than me,” said Harry. 

“Yes, I know, but remember, only a few 
short weeks ago I was a skeptic and I need 
earthly props, too. I had so long been watch- 
ing the faults and failings of poor, weak 
Christians instead of looking to Christ, the 
perfect pattern, that I shudder when I think 
of what might have been the result had not 
you and Willie been so faithful.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


“To wilful men, the injuries they themselves 
procure must be their schoolmaster.” 

It was a bright evening in September. The 
Reverend Doctor Noble had just fin- 
ished brushing his brown locks over 
the little bald spot on the crown 
of his head. Putting a few drops 
of eau de cologne on his blonde mustache 
and tying an immaculate white tie about his 
neck, he gave himself an admiring glance 
in the mirror, took his hat and cane, and 
sallied forth, turning his face toward Spencer 
Place. He did not always see Miss Guyndine 
when he called there, and upon two or three 
occasions he thought he caught the glimpse 
of a white dress going out of the back door 
as he entered the front, but he never suspic- 
ioned it was anyone trying to escape him. 
He invariably asked for Miss Guyndine, and 
when search was made and she could nowhere 
be found, he was deeply disappointed and 
imagined how she would feel when 
she learned that she had missed 
seeing him. Arriving at the gate his 
heart gave a great leap ; under the trees in the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


79 


moonlight he caught the glimpse of a white 
dress, and the outlines of a slender form. 
She seated herself amid a cluster of vines, 
and he had her now just where he wanted 
her. He had never before had an apportun- 
ity of speaking to her alone. He could now 
tell her all that was in his heart. 

A few minutes before his arrival at Spencer 
Place, Mrs. Tompkins, a white-eyed, tow- 
headed widow, with five white-eyed, tow- 
headed children, who occupied a pew in his 
church, arrived with a bundle of sewing she 
had been doing for Mrs. Spencer. After hav- 
ing delivered it as she started to return she 
was attracted to the pleasant seat under the 
trees. The seat was so surrounded by over- 
hanging vines that even on a bright night it 
was deep twilight there. She was seating her- 
self for a few moments’ rest when she saw 
the Reverend Doctor approaching. Her heart 
gave a wild leap. ''He must have seen me 
coming here and followed me ; he could have 
been but a short distance behind me. If he 
comes to this seat I shall know that he fol- 
lowed me. Oh, joy! he is coming.” She 
was so in the shadow that he could get but 
an indistinct outline of her face, but he was 
sure it was Guyndine, for he had watched her 
cross the lawn and he thought he knew the 
form. Hastening forward with heart beating 
like a bass drum, he stood before her. Mrs. 


80 GUYNDINE, 

Tompkins’ heart fluttered like a sparrow in a 
gopher trap. 

With a profound bow, he said : 'T cannot 
express my delight at finding you here. My 
heart almost leaped from my bosom as I 
watched the flutter of your white dress in 
the moonlight, for I realized the long-sought 
for opportunity had at last arrived when I 
may gratify the impatient wish that cannot 
know repose until I have told you my love 
and heard my answer from your lips.” Tak- 
ing a seat beside her he took her hand in his. 

Mrs. Tompkins was about to collapse. She 
sat with her mouth open gasping for breath ; 
she was completely overcome with the over- 
whelming intensity of the Doctor’s affection 
for her; she was being literally smothered 
with it. She had long admired the Reverend 
Doctor, but she had little hope of her feeling 
being reciprocated, and now that the knowl- 
edge had come upon her so suddenly and 
unexpectedly, it was overpowering; and as 
she caught a whiff of perfume from his mus- 
tache, and realized the intensity of his sweet- 
ness, her breath almost stopped and she rest- 
ed her head lovingly against his shoulder 
which did not surprise him at all. 

He began by telling her how tenderely he 
had loved his Martha^ and what a devoted 
husband he had been to her, — the Doctor’s 
wisdom was not confined to theology alone 
— and how he missed her; of his lonely life 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 81 

and how he yearned for companionship 
that close companionship which sweet- 
ens all suffering and makes men 
content even with poverty. He reminded her 
of that Sunday evening at the church, the 
first time he had ever looked into her eyes; 
he told her there was something in their 
gray depths that thrilled him through; that 
from that hour he was conscious that he 
never before knew what possibilities love 
possessed. He paused; she was silent, but 
she still continued to lean against him, which 
enhanced his ardor. He put his arm about 
her and drew her closer to him, and quoted 
Roe’s lines: 

“Can I behold thee and not speak my love? 

B’en now, sadly as I stand before thee, 

Thus desolate, dejected, and forlorn.” 

To this he added Young’s: 

“Art thou not dearer to my eyes than light? 

Dost thou not circulate through my veins. 

Mingle with my lije, and form my very soul?” 

And he finished with Shakespeare: a 

“O, my soul’s joy! 

If after every tempest come such calmness, 

May the winds blow ’till they have wakened 
death.” 

''And now, darling, all that remains to 
make my bliss complete is to hear you say 
you love me.” He heard the soft "yes” and 
was satisfied. He was a little surprised at 
Guyndine’s tameness, and yet when ^he 
stopped to consider the overmastering reve- 


G-6 


82 


GUYNDINE, 


lation he had just made, he could not expect 
anything else. 

The Reverend Doctor was accustomed to 
reasoning from hypothetical standpoints, and 
without arrogating to himself more than he 
felt was his just due, he called himself a 
sound reasoner. He reasoned now as usual. 
It would require time for her to recover her 
equanimity after the momentous disclosure 
he had just made. It would be considered an 
event in almost any woman's life, and it was 
quite enough to make almost any of them 
lose their equilibrium. He was in no par- 
ticular hurry; he was enjoying himself, and 
could wait ; so he took from her lips sip after 
sip of the most delicious nectarial dew. The 
Reverend Doctor was in man's paradise — ''A 
full stomach, love and dotage." 

Mrs. Tompkins felt that the bliss of this 
hour would repay her for all the suffering 
she had ever known. How very sweet he 
was ! She did not know a man could smell 
so much like a fragrant flower. Her dear de- 
parted and late lamented had kept a livery 
stable ; he was a good man and she had loved 
him dearly, but he was not fragrant like this. 

At last the Doctor said: “Now, darling, 
let us go in and tell Brother and Sister Spen- 
cer. 

They rose and as she stepped out of the 
shadow into the moonlight, he fell back into 


A'WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 

the seat gasping: ''Great Caesar! What do 
I see ? What have I done 

He trembled and his voice sounded husky. 
She clung to him, and with a terrified glance 
behind her, whispered: "What do you see? 
Is it a ghost ? Is it Martha With a groan 
he pushed her away. She rent the air with 
an unearthly shriek and started toward the 
house. Before she had gone half the dis- 
tance, she was met by Judge Kahree,, the 
Squire, Harry, Mrs. Spencer, Guyndine and 
a half dozen negroes from the kitchen, who 
all cried in a breath, "What on earth is the 
matter, Mrs. Tompkins?’' Breathless and 
speechless with terror, she pointed to the 
form of what they supposed to be a tramp, 
and all took it for granted that he had per- 
petrated some outrage upon her. Judge 
Kahree being the first to reach him, 
took him h;y the collar and brought him up 
with a jerk, just in time for the Squire to 
give him a tremendous kick. It was charac- 
teristic of the Squire to kick before he 
looked ; he never did anything deliberately. 

"You scoundrel!” said the Squire, "what 
are you doing here? I’ll teach you to come 
into my grounds and insult a lady!’' With 
another kick he landed him out into the 
moonlight. Although the Squire was small 
and the Doctor large, there was force enough 
in one of his kicks to make the Doctor bounce 
like a rubber ball. His silk hat fell off and 


84 


GUYNDINE, 


went Spinning down the walk, and he, more 
dead than alive, fairly paralyzed with what he 
had just endured, and the mortification of 
facing this particular crowd under such cir- 
cumstances made the Reverend Doctor look 
like a whipped cur. He stood there panting 
for breath, twitching with pain, and wishing 
in his heart that driveling simpleton, Mrs. 
Tompkins, could have received one of fhe 
Squire’s kicks ; he would willingly have taken 
one to have seen her receive the other; but 
after having raised such a rumpus to have 
her go scot free was too much. 

‘'Je — rusalem. Dr. Noble, is it possible this 
is you?” gasped the Squire. ''What does 
this mean?” whereupon he was seized with 
one of his rasping, nerve-spliting coughs, 
which for once was a blessing, for it gave the 
Doctor time to reflect, and decide upon what 
he should say. 

Before he had time to open his mouth, 
Mrs. Tompkins rushed back upon the scene 
and, throwing her arms about the Doctor, 
shrieked, "Oh, what have you done ! He did 
not insult me ; he is my bethrothed husband, 
the dearest one on earth to me. Squire 
Spencer, you must be crazy. Oh, what shall 
I do ! I think you have about killed him.” 

The Doctor shook her off with such force 
that she fell back against Judge Kahree with 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


85 


a thud ; a vehement expression escaped the 
Doctor’s lips, which might have been ^'blamed 
fool” but it had a suspicous sound of some- 
thing stronger. He brushed the disheveled 
hair from his face, turned a variety of colors, 
ran his front finger between his collar and his 
throat as if trying to get more air, cleared his 
throat and stammered, “I — I — ah — mistook 
Mrs. Tompkins — ah — for another person, and 
she becoming frightened, made an outcry 
which caused this commotion.” 

Every one there understood who the other 
person was, and there was a titter among the 
negroes, which afterward met with a severe 
reprimand from Mrs. Spencer. But the Doc- 
tor’s agony of soul was too great for him 
to notice negro monkey shines, so Mrs. 
Spencer need not have worried. 

Judge Kahree stepped forward and picked 
up the Doctor’s hat, carefully wiping the dust 
from it with his handkerchief ; bowing in his 
easy, graceful manner, he presented it. 'T 
am truly sorry, sir, for the part I have taken 
in this unfortunate affair. It has been a mis- 
take all around, which we shall none of us 
ever cease to regret.” 

The Doctor assured him that he was aware 
it was a mistake, consequently there was 
nothing to pardon. Wondering who he could 
be and what business he had at Spencer 
Place. 

''Excuse me,” said the Squire, "Judge, this 


86 


GUYNDINE, 


is our friend and beloved pastor, the Reverend 
Doctor Noble. My friend, Judge Kahree, 
Doctor. I am so upset by this affair that I 
scarcely know what I am about. Doctor, if 
you will kick me twice, as hard as I kicked 
you, I will give you fifty dollars, and I will 
give the family, negroes and all, leave to 
give me one kick all around ; it will give some 
of them a chance to pay back old scores,’' 
said he, looking at Mrs. Spencer and laugh- 
ing. 

Mrs. Spencer was in tears ; the thought 
that the Squire had actually kicked her be- 
loved pastor was too awful. She begged the 
Doctor to go into the house and partake 
of some refreshment. He declined, however, 
as he felt that the most refreshing thing just 
now would be to get away, besides he was 
not sure he could sit down. , 

Mrs. Tompkins was quite overcome; the 
fright was bad enough for she was sure the 
Doctor had seen Martha. But to know 
that he had mistaken her for some one else 
was worse than seeing a legion of ghosts. 
She quietly slipped away and went home to 
the five orphans a sadder, if not a wiser 
woman. 

The first thing the Doctor did upon his 
arrival at home, was to get water and-castile 
soap and wash his mouth. Judging from 
the faces he made one would think he had 
just swallowed a dose of Epsom salts ; he 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


87 


lathered, rinsed, spit, and actually gagged. 
He ground his white teeth in fury: ''Bah! 
and how I did slobber over the simpering 
simpleton !’' Again he spit and shuddered. 

He then proceeded to examine his bruises 
and found a full-sized imprint of Squire 
Spencer's boot which resembled pastel work ; 
the shading was exquisite and blended in the 
most artistic manner, from royal purple down 
to a shell pink. There were two, but the 
large one was the Squire's masterpiece, and 
showed the depth of feeling he had put into 
it. But tonight the Doctor had no eye for 
the beautiful. 


CHAPTER VIL 


Judge Kahree^s business trip to his boy- 
hood home at A , which he had expected 

would necessarily continue three months (as 
he was attorney for the Cranston heirs in 
the great legal contest of i8 — ) had length- 
ened into almost twice that time. But there 
was no question in the minds of the neigh- 
bors in the vicinity of Spencer Place as to 
why he lingered. 

It was a balmy evening in September. 
The Judge had as usual spent the evening at 
Spencer Place, and hat in hand was bowing 
his ‘‘good night.’' Guyndine stepped out 
upon the broad stone step beside him. “What 
a magnificent night,” said she, “With your 
permission I will walk with you as far as the 
gate.” He silently took her hand and draw- 
ing it through his arm held it as they slowly 
passed down the broad gravel walk in and out 
of the shimmering moonlight and the shad- 
ows of the trees. The mocking-bird, swing- 
ing on the dewy bough overhead, ran through 
his sweetest length of trills, and was answered 
from the garden and the hedge. The spirit 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 89 

of fragrance was in the air ; the soft wind was 
wooing the magnolia tree. The extraordinary 
sensation which always came with Guyndine's 
touch, was traversing his body. , 

At the gate he turned, placed a finger under 
her chin and raised her face so that the 
moon's rays fell full upon it. Looking 
straight into her eyes, he said in a low, tender 
voice: ‘'Guyndine, I have never said one 

word to you on the subject nearest my heart, 
since that sweet Sabbath morning in July, 
when you told me I might hope. The sus- 
pense has been long; may I not have my 
answer tonight? Will you not now give me 
the right to carry with me as I leave you 
the warm touch of these lips, the sign of that 
pledge which unites soul to soul ?" He 
paused; all was silent save the sweet twitter- 
ing voice overhead. He resumed in the same 
soft, pleading tone. ^'My proud heart is in 
complete subjection to this all-absorbing love. 
Knowing this, you surely would not have 
allowed me to drift on and on, unless it was 
reciprocal to some extent. Let me hear you 
say tonight the sweetest words that ever fell 
from human lips, T love you.' Will you say 
this to me tonight." 

All was silent, even the mocking bird had 
hushed his song. Her face flushed and her 
eyelids quivered under his burning gaze, but 
her lips seemed glued together. The color 
receded from her face, a little tremor passed 


90 


GUYNDINE, 


through her frame, her lips parted and an im- 
passioned sigh fluttered out upon the per- 
fumed air. He read his answer, and his fond 
dream of months leaped into positive reality. 
'‘It is well,' my darling, it is well ; mine at last 
and no mistake.’' 

Her indomitable will had conquered, and 
she was beginning after continuous effort to 
bring her affections to a focus. Her intense 
nature was all aglow with admiration for a 
being in whom her conception had centered 
all the beauties which belonged to her ideal, 
excluding everything defective and unseemly. 
He had become the prince of earthly perfec- 
tion in her eyes. 

Judge Kahree walked back to his hotel on 
air. On arriving there, too happy to sleep, he 
sought a moonlight balcony which opened 
out of his room. For awhile he walked back 
and forth, letting the cool night air fan his 
flushed face. He looked up into the mid- 
night sky, spangled with a thousand stars, 
and quoted : 

“Were my life to come one heap of troubles 
The pleasure of this moment would suffice, 
And sweeten all my griefs with its remem- 
brance.” 

“Ah, Lee ! When you wrote those lines had 
you ever tasted of the cup so rare ? Did you 
really know what bliss was ? The discerning 
sage declares that it does not belong to this 
mundane sphere, but am I not tasting it now ? 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


91 


Oh, if it should be dashed from my lips ! If 
it should He lighted a cigar and sat down 
amid blue curling wreathes of smoke to spend 
a while with his castles in Spain, after which 
he retired and courted Morpheus for an hour. 
At last, as he was sinking into sweet repose, 
there came wandering into his room a shad- 
owy form with bright hair and wistful gray 
eyes. Silently she glided to his bedside, stop- 
ped and looked down upon him with the ex- 
pression of one who is taking a last look of a 
coffined face ; there was an expression of such 
intense agony in the eyes that he sprang up 
to catch her in his arms, and lo ! his arms 
were full of empty air. The dream was so 
real that he struck a match to see if there 
was anyone in the room. After a time he 
again slept, and was aroused by hearing 
Guyndine’s voice : ''Oh, mon Dieu ! mon 

Dieu ! ayez pitie de moi.’’ The voice rose in 
a plaintive wail. He sprang up and looked 
about him. Day was breaking, sleep was 
out of the question for this time, but a heavy 
weight seemed resting on his heart. "Pshaw ! 
it was only a dream.’' He ordered his horse 
and took a canter before breakfast, and re- 
turned with a good appetite and buoyant 
spirits. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


“Oh, had he whispered, when his sweetest 
kiss was warm upon my mouth, in fancied bliss, 
he had kissed another woman, e’en as this.’’ 

It was an October noonday. Misty vapors 
in which were blended every tint and color, 
hung, like a gauzy veil over the sun's bright 
face. There had been a shower and the 
clouds were piling up in great fiery billows 
in the southwest, and reminded one of a cas- 
tle all on fire. Rain drops sparkled on leaf 
and brier, and the green moss underneath 
was studded with gold, thank offerings from 
the trees to mother earth. 

Awake, O south wind, and bring your 
sweetest offering from orange grove and 
spicy garden. Come forth, ye feathered 
songsters, and sing your tenderest notes, and 
if you touch the minor strains they must be 
pianissimo, for this is Guyndine's wedding 
day. The sacred hour has come; she now 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 93 

stands under hanging garlands, arrayed in 
soft white folds of clinging silk, bridal veil, 
and orange flowers. Her hand is clasped by 
the hand of him she loves, to whom she is 
dearer than life ; can there be anything want- 
ing? Surely this is an ideal wedding. Every 
eye is turned admiringly upon the twain who 
are being made one. A finer specimen of 
handsome manhood than the bridegroom it 
would be hard to find, nor could you find 
one who takes his vow with more solemnity 
and intelligence. Both realize that eternity 
will not efface the records of this hour. 

Languidly the autumn wind pushed aside 
the filmy curtains and stole in at the open 
window; he re-arranged the folds of the 
bridal veil, kissed the orange wreath, and 
lifted its fragrance to the bridegroom, and 
passing on distributed to each guest a share 
of the perfume. But to the bride his touch 
was chill; she shuddered as he passed. The 
man of God repeated the words ''Until death 
do you part.'’ There was a hush in the room 
like the hush of death and her cold lips could 
scarcely articulate, "I do." Her voice sound- 
ed faint and far away, and died out upon 
the perfumed air like a little moan. Rev. 
Brown's voice trembled as he pronounced 
the benediction and somehow he felt as if he 
was officiating at a funeral. The vow is 


94 


GUYNDINE, 


taken, the die is cast, and Guyndine Vauce is 
the wife of Arrel Kahree. 

Every guest felt impressed with a deep 
solemnity, tears glistened in the eyes of some 
and mingled with the congratulations. 

''Until death U these words continued to 
sound in Guyndine's ears. As Willie Dobson 
filled the rooms with the most exquisite 
music from the piano, all marched to the 
dining room. Between the tones, like the 
distant tolling of a muffled bell, came wafted 
to the ears of the bride, "Until death.'' She 
was happy, very, very happy; why should 
these words ring in her ears? The answer 
came, "Until death." 

"Eternal God ! bear me witness that what- 
ever may follow it shall be until death,'’ 
As her spirit amid its gay surroundings whis- 
pered these words, her hands involuntarily 
clasped and her eyes glanced upward. The 
Judge observed the glance and the attitude 
and wondered what it meant. 

Sir Robert Stapleton saySj "The man that 
breaks a promise, degrades himself ; he can 
never pretend to honor more." What can 
we think of men and women, who stand 
before the altar and swear to a pledge that is 
sealed above, a pledge so sacred that be- 
holders stand with bated breath while it is 
given and breathe a sigh of relief when it 
is over; what can we think of one who takes 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


95 


such a pledge, turns away and deliberately 
tears it asunder? It is weakness to believe 
them. The true man, the true woman, will 
stand by the vow, when the chain shall prove 
a galling weight; when the lamp gives a 
sepulchural light ; through sleet, snow, sor- 
row, oppression, despair, ''until death.'' Mar- 
riage is destiny; true marriage is fore-or- 
dained; but if we force destiny, and by our 
self-will invite sorrow, by making marriages 
of juxtaposition, we have no recourse to the 
law of God. There is no such a thing as a 
divorce except for adultery; and the law of 
the land has no right to say a man may be 
divorced when Almighty God has said he 
shall not. 

Ye law makers, small creeping things of 
earth! How dare you set up your simple 
judgment in opposition to that of your 
Maker? How dare you set aside his perfect 
decree and place in its stead a defective, 
and corrupting human mandate. You have 
sown anarchy; do you now expect to reap 
loyalty? When individuals refuse to recog- 
nize your laws, and attempt to do what they 
please with impunity, you loudly denounce 
them as criminals, hurling after them bitter 
anathemas, recommending that inexorable 
justice be meted out to them according to 
their deserts. Justice indeed! If justice 
had been done. Almighty God would have 


96 


GUYNDINE, 


exterminated you in the beginning of your 
irreverent career. You, with an open Bible 
before you and looking squarely into the 
face of your Maker, have dared to annul one 
of his laws. Like a masculine Medusa, you 
sit before the gate of justice, guarding it 
with your Gorgonian terrors, turning the 
minds of all who behold you into stony for- 
getfulness of the laws of Jehovah, the great 
Am.’’ 

“Her wing shall the eagle flap o’er the false- 
hearted, 

His warm blood the wolf shall lap ere life be 
parted, 

Shame and dishonor sit by his grave ever, 

Blessings shall hallow it never, oh never!” 

A few hours later, dressed in a gray suit, 
with gray ostrich plumes falling over her 
bright hair, Guyndine was lifted into the car- 
riage by her husband, who after bowing a 
last farewell to admiring friends, took his 
seat beside her, and was whirled away to the 
station, thence by rail to Kansas City, Mis- 
souri, their future home. 

Despite her happiness, a feeling of sadness 
came over Guyndine as she thought of the 
beloved ones and the familiar scenes she was 
leaving behind. But she had the comforting 
thought that Harry would be with them in 
their new home the following week, he hav- 
ing completed arrangements for the study of 
law in the Judge’s office. 

Oh, woman, whose name is mother ! Your 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 97 

golden opportunity in which to set your 
misguided child aright has slipped by; you, 
by your ignorance and foolishness, have 
driven her from home, as it were. Could 
you see the weary interval in which her soul 
will be tossed upon the waves of pain, when 
from the fated path she cannot turn, when 
with thirst unslaked, footsore, heartsick and 
weary, she must bear the heavy load over the 
unknown way; could you look into that 
sealed book, the future, and see your sweet, 
sensitive plant with its leaves crushed and 
broken, swept by an Arctic blast, and covered 
with chilling snow, you would now, instead 
of being exultant, feel like him 

“Who shot so high he lost his shaft, 

And found it in his forehead.” 

Never did train run so smoothly, sunshine 
smile so sweetly, zephyr blow so gently, 
as on the day that happy pair were being 
borne northward. Who says that bliss does 
not belong to earth? The poet says, '‘The 
bliss e’en of a moment still is bliss.” “Vain 
schemer, think not to prolong your joy, but 
cherish while it lasts the heavenly boon.” To- 
day the clouds are not clouds, but feathery 
pictures floating in misty panorama. Yon- 
der in the blue ethereal ocean whose purple 
billows toss against mountains of snow, aro 
queens with flowing robes and gilded crowns, 
and great bearded kings on massive thrones, 


G-7 


93 


GUYNDINE, 


who melt together into fleecy lambs led by 
dancing cherubs; and in the south floating 
on a pillow are three fluffy, white puppies 
^huddled close together, watching, with won- 
dering eyes, as a great sea monster trans- 
forms himself into a fairy with silver wand. 
Behold how fair is earth and sky today. 


CHAPTER IX. 


The home of Judge Kahree was a beautiful 
modern structure, not so large as the Spencer 
mansion, but very elegant. The frescoed 
walls, plate glass windows, decorated with 
''mosaics,'' delicately tinted carpets and beau- 
tiful furniture, were works of art and showed 
the fine taste and wealth of the owner. 

It was dark when they arrived at Kansas 
City. The Judge's carriage was at the sta- 
tion. At home they were met by the house- 
keeper, a kind-faced woman of fifty, who 
showed Guyndine to her room, telling her 
that dinner was waiting. She soon arranged 
her toilet, and descended to the hall, where 
the Judge met her and conducted her to the 
dining room, which was spacious and bril- 
liantly lighted. He proudly seated her at the 
head of his table, which was spread with 
snowy nappery and sparkling with cut glass 
and silver. Taking his seat opposite, the 
Judge felt that his cup of joy was indeed 
full He was at home, there were no guests, 
LofC. 


100 


GUYNDINE, 


and his treasure was all his own. The ser- 
vant waited on them and withdrew. 

The dinners at the home of Judge Kaliree 
were on a sumptuous scale. He had the 
leputation of being a princely entertainer, 
which means, of course, that he was exceed- 
ingly popular. Two thousand years have not 
detracted from the attractiveness of the 
loaves and fishes, and the throng follows 
them as of old. 

''As my barque glides down the streani of 
time,'' said the Judge, "Somewhere away in 
the shadowy future, memory may play me 
false, my right hand may forget its cunning, 
and I may cease to remember my own name, 
but the happiness of this hour will nunain 
when all else is blotted out; this hour which 
marks the installing of my heart's queen as 
mistress of my home." 

Guyndine glanced around the beautiful 
room. "I perceive I have married an artist, 
as well as a prince, and to be installed queen 
of such a heart and mistress of such a home, 
awakens within me a pulse of ecstasy. It is 
beautiful; it is exquisite." 

His face flushed with pleasure. "Thank 
you. I may have had a little taste to start 
with, but it is doubtful whether it would have 
developed without Cupid's assistance. I drew 
all my inspiration from him. He kept ine 
awake all night to plan it. I thought I owed 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 101 

him a grudge, but since you are pleased, he 
and I will call it square. 

Guyndine looked at him admiringly. ''Not 
the least bit effeminate,'' thought she, "yet 
so delicate in manner and taste." Then she 
said: "A woman who could not be happy 
with such a home and such a husband certain- 
ly could not be happy anywhere ; but it does 
not in the least resemble the home which has 
always figured in my dreams ; that was a 
cottage, very small, beside a hill, with a wil- 
lowy brook, and porches hung with ivy where 
swallows twittered and built their nests in 
spring, and there was the glimpse of a river 
in the distance which was always sparkling 
and smiling as it tumbled over a dam.. Mam- 
ma always said that my dreams were not like 
other people's, and I believe it is true." 

"How about the man who figured in those 
dreams of the cottage," queried the Judge. 

"Ah, a perfect man, of course," said she, 
laughing, "like my real husband, an artist; 
and, like him, pure and spotless as the beau- 
tiful snow." 

Judge Kahree felt the color surge into his 
face; keep it back he could not. "What has 
become of my self-control," thought he. "If 
you continue to deal out such sweets as this 
to me," said he, laughing, "You will have 
me spoiled. I have a faint recollection of 
having been told not long since by a certain 
Georgia girl that she admired me because I 


102 


GUYNDINE, 


was not egotistical. She evidently did not 
know me. She is in a fair way to get better 
acquainted with me now, however.’’ 

''To know is but to love,” said she, looking 
at him fondly. 

While the Judge was perfectly sure that 
Guyndine loved him, this was her first volun- 
tary admission of it. He was accustomed 
to being toasted and flattered, but these were 
the very sweetest words he had ever listened 
to ; yet there was the drop of gall, and he 
caught himself in the act of drawing a deep 
sigh; he turned it into a cough and she did 
not notice it. A servant entered to change 
the course and the conversation was not re- 
sumed. 

After dinner he conducted her to the hand- 
some parlors. Neither ever forgot that first 
evening in their new home. Guyndine 
thought it strange that there should be an 
idea extant that perfect bliss did not belong 
to earth. The Judge’s cup was brim full, but 
it tasted of the bitter. For three days the 
stream of bliss flowed on without a ripple, ex- 
cept as now and then the Judge’s retentive 
mind took retrospective glimpses and com- 
pared notes with his sweet wife’s trust in his 
purity, which invariably brought the long- 
drawn sigh, and impelled him to take her in 
his arms and hold her close to him. 

It was evening; she was reclining upon a 
couch in the library ; he sat at a table reading 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 103 


aloud from Shakespeare ; he came to one of 
those indecent passages for which Shakes- 
peare is noted. Laughing, he said : ''That 
reminds me,'' and began telling her a story 
along the same line. 

Her face flushed scarlet. Looking at him 
with eyes which expressed surprise and 
grief, she said: "I did not know that your 
lips were capable of framing language such 
as this." 

"Why, I was talking to my . wife. 
I thought a man had a right to express him- 
self freely to his own wife." 

"I do not dispute your right," said she, 
"but it is a poor compliment to your wife 
to think she would appreciate such enter- 
tainment. I never before heard anything so 
vile. And to think it came from the lips of 
him whom I had placed upon a high pedestal, 
and was learning to bow down before !" 
Leaning back upon the cushions, she inter- 
laced her fingers and placed them over her 
eyes; the fingers trembled and there was a 
quiver about her mouth. 

The Judge was surprised and somewhat 
embarrassed, and was at a loss to know how 
to excuse himself. He sat looking at her 
with a half-puzzled, half-amused expression. 

"Guyndine, you are young and unsophisti- 
cated. You will not always feel this foolish 
modesty with me. Can you not realize that T 
am now a part of yourself, and that we may 


104 


GUYNDINE, 


unreservedly express every thought to each 
other? I cannot understand this extreme 
delicacy. It is common for men to speak 
freely to their wives, and most ladies think 
nothing of it. I am inclined to think you 
are just a little too fastidious on this point.’' 

She remained silent; she had caught a 
glimpse of something in his nature that dis- 
appointed her. Her ideal was a man whose 
lofty mind would not harbor vulgar thoughts, 
and whose chaste, refined tongue would not 
give expression to coarse language. She was 
not angry but she was deeply grieved. Se- 
quences from little words and small acts often 
dispel illusions, which will lead to the sever- 
ance of the closest human ties. She recalled 
her own faults, reviewing them one by one; 
'thus by depreciating herself trying to excuse 
him, or rather trying to cover his faults with 
her own. But fix it as she might, he had 
fallen a degree in her esteem. All the wo- 
man’s lovingness within her cried out with 
passionate appeal against releasing for one 
brief moment her perfect trust in her husband 
as her ideal, but love and respect are so 
closely allied it is impossible to touch one 
without affecting the other. 

The Judge was not a little chagrined at the 
turn the affair had taken. Her modesty was 
the very essence of all her sweetness to him ; 
he would not have her lose it for worlds. 
But somehow he had the uncomfortable feel- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 106 

ing that his dignity had received a slight jos- 
tle, and the rapid transition of his mind, in- 
spired by a naturally refined nature, soon 
filled him with a sense of shame and self- 
reprehension. He crossed the room and 
bending over her drew her hands from her 
face. Kissing her cheek, he said, with a low 
laugh, ‘'Shall I now go on my knees to my 
wife and beg pardon because, forsooth, I 
repeated a story to her which was — ^well — a 
little indelicate?’' 

“A little indelicate, did you say? Do you 
then know a worse one than that?” He 
laughed again. “Why did you not repeat this 
story a week ago?” 

“We were not married a week ago ; I had 
no right to become so familiar.” 

“And so,” said she, “marriage is an insti- 
tution giving men and women a right to be 
vulgar and impure, is it ? and to cultivate that 
frailty in our nature which of all others we 
ought most to fear and shun ?” 

“It is an institution,” said he, “which re- 
moves all restraint and places us upon a basis 
of perfect freedom.” 

“And I am to understand,” inquired she, 
that men — gentlemen — really enjoy this style 
of conversation, and that they esteem it a 
privilege when the ‘restraint’ — as you say — 
is removed, to be allowed to talk thus to their 


106 


GUTNDINE, 


wives? Does such a privilege make her 
more congenial to him 

'‘Ha-ha-ha, Guyndine, this is a new role 
for me to assume. I am in the habit of plac- 
ing others on the witness stand and doing the 
cross-questioning myself ; but you reverse the 
order of things, and with all the coolness and 
sang-froid of an old practitioner, you force 
me on it and proceed to wind me up in first- 
class shape. You are a natural born lawyer.” 
Again he laughed lightly. "Supposing you 
take a business partnership with me; Fll 
guarantee it would be the most popular firm 
in the city.” 

Guyndine continued to look at him with 
sad eyes. If he could have glanced into the 
secret recesses of her soul he would not have 
felt like laughing. Although he tried to jest 
it off, deep within was a feeling of unrest, 
a dim realization that this girhs spirit and his 
did not perfectly affiliate. 

‘‘Nature by magnetic laws 

Circle unto circle draws; 

But they only touch when met, 

Never mingle — strangers yet.” 

How sad the young wife felt. What had 
happened away down deep in her heart. She 
felt like one "who stands and listens amid the 
twilight chill for the return of a vanished 
form.” Life’s sweet chord has struck a 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 107 


minor : ''A shadow is in the light, a spray of 

cypress is twining with the bridal wreath.” 

^Well,” thought she, *‘he is but human af- 
ter all. I should not have expected perfec- 
tion. I must remember that I am imperfect 
and I must not allow the fact that I have dis- 
covered a flaw to affect my love for him. But 
oh ! I wanted to look up to him as a veritable 
Sampson of strength in purity and nobility 
of character. I wanted to feel that the heart 
that beat responsive to my own was pure 
gold. Oh, I wanted something to worship.” 
Instantly a crucified form rose before her 
mind’s eye. “Yes, I see it all now; I was 
wrong, all wrong; blindly going into idolatry. 
God forgive me.” 

The Judge sat close beside her with both 
her hands in his and thought : “She is pure 
and chaste as a snowflake. Oh, if she had 
but come into my life ten years ago, what a 
different man I would be today; then I was 
pure and the very thought of those inno- 
cent eyes would have kept me from falling. 
I could then have looked into her face and 
felt that I was worthy of her ; but if she could 
view some of the scenes of my life as I view 
them tonight, she would not so much as let 
me touch her hand, much less kiss her sweet 
lips.” Bending he kissed her again and 
again. “Guyndine, pardon me. I will not 
offend you in this way again. Yes, marriage 


108 


GUYNDINE, 


h a heaven-born institution, made for pure 
purposes alone. I was abusing its privileges 
when I repeated that story. I hope you will 
forget it.'' 

Silently Guyndine pressed his hand, and 
lifting it to her lips let it rest there, as she 
tenderly stroked and kissed it. His face 
flushed and a spasm of pain flitted over it. 
There was a whirlwind of emotion in his 
heart. The thought of practicing deception 
upon the woman he loved was revolting; his 
sweet girl wife, who trusted him and held 
possession in the most secret foldings of his 
heart; but he had sown the wind, and he 
must now reap the whirlwind, and mingling 
with his cup of bliss were pangs and madness. 
He looked down upon her with burning gaze 
and anguished spirit. ''Oh, would to God 
I were what she believes me. My conscience 
hath a thousand tongues, and every tongue 
brings me a several tale, and every tale con- 
demns me for a villian. But, oh, it is too 
late ! too late ! I could not live without her. 
No, no, I cannot give her up. Demoralizing 
as it is, and humiliating to my better self, 
I must play the farce to the end, feeling that 
every time my lips touch hers shame and 
degradation is heaped upon my head. Oh, 
I never dreamed that I, with my proud na- 
ture, could condescend to falsehood. How 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 109 


one false step will lead a man on down — God 
knows where.” 

Ladies, refined and elegant, if you would 
have a true concept of your own character, 
and see the image of your true self, analyze 
the love you inspire in men. 

While Judge Kahree’s nobler and better 
nature was writhing as under the touches of 
a red hot iron, Guyndine felt the dash of a 
cold, premonitory wave over her spirit. 

Her marriage had been prompted by mo- 
tives of the purest love. Could anything but 
blessings result from it? She had just had 
a glimpse of a possibility, and the wavering 
consciousness, vague as it was, was accom- 
panied with continually varying phases of un- 
rest which haunted her for many days. Still 
she could not have defined it. Had she been 
interrogated as to her faith in her husband, 
her reply would have been that it was im- 
plicit, and she would have felt that she had 
answered truthfully. 

As the Judge’s hand rested upon her lips, 
his wife felt him shudder; glancing up, she 
was startled by the expression in his face. 
''What is it, Arrel? Are you ill?” 

"No, no.” 

Again she felt a shudder. 

"Why, Arrel, what makes you shiver? You 
are surely ill.” 

"Oh, no, I am not.” 

He rose and went to the window, drew 


110 


GUYNDINE, 


aside the curtain and stood looking out into 
the night. Guyndine seated herself at the 
piano. With delicate touch her fingers swept 
the keys for a moment, and glided into the 
minor chords, and her sweet, pathetic voice, 
in which there was no affected shake, sang : 

“Flee as a bird to yon mountain. 

Thou who art weary of sin; 

Go to the clear flowing foutnain 
Where you may wash and be clean. 

Haste, for the avenger is near thee! 

Call and the Saviour will hear thee; 

He on His bosom will bear thee, 

Thou who art weary of sin : 

Oh, thou who art weary of sin.” 

The Judge now stood close beside her. As 
she finished the last verse, he threw his arms 
about her and held her so close that he hurt 
her. It was only for a moment ; without a 
word he went to the hall, took his hat and left 
the house. He was gone an hour, had 
walked continuously, and had not left his 
own grounds ; back and forth, back and forth, 
trying to still the tumult within. His mind 
was dwelling with a sort of agonized fascina- 
tion upon all the details of his past life. He 
was haunted by a presentiment that in the 
coming years, he must pay a heavy price for 
past indulgences, and the heart-cutting com- 
parison of himself with Guyndine's ideal. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. ill 


urged itself upon him till it transformed itself 
into a veritable Nemesis. 

You who deny future punishment, answer: 
If this man should die tonight, which way 
would you advise him to go to find Heaven? 
You may take him if you will, to the gold- 
paved streets of the ‘‘New Jerusalem;'' clothe 
him in the robes of an angel white and glitter- 
ing; seat him at the right hand of the throne 
of God; place upon his brow a diadem, 
sparkling with a thousand jewels; put into 
his hand a palm of victory ; then tell him he 
is in Heaven, and ask him to sing a song of 
glory. Your answer will be the demoniac 
yell, “Take me away from here; the light is 
too intense. I am in hell ! Fool, do you ex- 
pect me to endure the search-light of the eye 
of Almighty God, when under the lashing of 
a guilty conscience I could not endure the 
presence of a pure woman ?" Self-condemned, 
he will tear off the robe, throw down the 
crown, and flee into outer darkness, where 
there is wailing and gnashing of teeth. And 
this man is neither “a murderer, a thief, nor 
an infidel." He is simply an elegant, cultured, 
fastidious leader of society, who once so far 
forgot his dignity as to play the role of liber- 
tine. Some will say : “Oh, is that all ? Then 


112 


GUYNDINE, 


what is the use of all this fuss?'' You would 
not make a fuss over so small a thing ; oh, no ! 
Where there is no fine feeling, and no con- 
science, there is no criticism on the violation 
of moral and divine law. 


CHAPTER X. 


“Of all the seed that in my youth was sown, 
Was none but breaks and brambles to be mown. ’ ’ 

When we reflect that the same Maker 
breathed into all men the same soul, and con- 
template the vast difference in these souls, 
because of physical and moral environments, 
we find ourselves confronted by a deep prob- 
lem; and when we meet any one of those 
beings with such lofty natures we feel almost 
as if we had been given a glimpse into an- 
other sphere. 

Judge Kahree sometimes had this feeling 
in regard to his wife. Her nature reminded 
him of a harp whose quivering strings were 
tuned to the touch of seraph fingers, and 
susceptible to the breath of the softest zephyr. 
She possessed that faculty which could con- 
vert the common and dull things of life into 
poetry and rhythm. Music held her in a soul- 
entrancing spell which lifted her above the 
grosser elements of earth, and bore her on its 
pinions to a height where voices of angels and 
archangels mingled with her own, and the fire 

G — 8 


114 


GUTNDINE, 


from the celestial altar burned the dross 
away. And when the terrific storm-cloud 
darkened the sun and threatened the earth, 
he watched her in amazement. To her it was 
a thing of majestic beauty; the more terrify- 
ing it appeared to others, the more it attract- 
ed her. The grand reverberations that roP 
through space, with their low modulations 
and swelling crescendos, form a deep-toned 
basso profundo which, mingling with the 
warbling wind and pattering rain, form a 
grand sonata, in which she hears the chord 
of the tonic sweep into the dominant seventh, 
take on its interrupted resolution, and glide 
into its relative minor. 

“Anon through every pulse the music steals 

’Till her listening heart forgets all duties and 
all cares.” 

At such times the Judge studied her with 
a feeling akin to awe, and he felt down deep 
in his heart that they were strangers yet. 

“After months of life together, 

After fair and stormy weather, 

After travel in fair lands, 

After touch of wedded hands ; 

Why thus joined? Why ever met 
If they must be strangers yet ? ’ ’ 

Their lives seemed like a circle within a 
circle which never touched ; yet each seemed 
to be reaching towards the other with an 
unsatisfied longing for closer communion. 

They had been married eight months. It 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 115 

was a June evening. Their home was bril- 
liant with gaslight and flowers and filled with 
guests. Judge Kahree's friends had just been 
served to one of his princely dinners. The 
Judge had a slight headache, and as the air 
indoors .seemed rather oppressive, he stepped 
through a French window and walked along 
a gallery which led to the back of the house. 
At the end of the gallery he stopped near an 
open window; two gentlemen were convers- 
ing inside. 

'T wonder what the Judge has done with 
the fair Joan of the olden time?’' said one. 

^'Oh, he weaned her years ago ; it broke 
her heart, and she is a wreck. She is now an 
inmate of Madame LaMont’s.” 

“Poor Joan ! It seems too bad that wo- 
men will act the fool. It really seems incred- 
ible that such a woman as Joan could go 
down with such rapidity. She took a tumble 
from the top round of the ladder. Ten years 
ago she moved in the best society.” 

“The Judge led a gay Lothario’s life, I 
grant you, but he was not to blame for her 
first step downward. I happen to know 
something about that; but when he threw 
lier off she became desperate and went to the 
bottom in a hurry ; she was madly infatuated. 
The Judge is one of those honorable fellows 
who will be true to his marriage obligation. 


116 


GUTNDINE, 


however. By the way, he is the first man I 
have seen lately who is really in love with 
his wife.’^ 

''Marriage is of little worth these days/’ 
said the first speaker. 

"Oh, that is altogether owing to the stand- 
point from which yon view it. To the attor- 
ney it affords a lucrative business,” replied his 
friend, laughing. 

The Judge did not wish to overhear a con- 
versation which was not intended for his ears, 
and he turned and left the spot. As he 
reached the French window and was about to 
pass in, a lady’s skirts swept his ankles, and 
Guyndine passed in, in front of him. ^She 
did not look at him. There was a flash in 
her eyes, a smile on her lips, and a deep flush 
on her cheeks. In a few minutes she was the 
center of an admiring group, and for the re- 
mainder of the evening the most brilliant and 
attractive woman present. This was a new 
mood; the Judge’s eyes followed her with 
surprise as her low, musical laugh rippled out 
on the evening air, and somehow it gave him 
a feeling of unrest. She was usually quiet, 
and entertained without apparent effort ; but 
tonight it was evident to him she was taxing 
every energy. 

Not once during the evening did she glance 
toward him. When he managed to get near 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 117 

her, she glided away and disappeared among 
the guests. At last they stood together in 
the hall as the last guest was bowing good 
night. The Judge closed the door and Guyn- 
dine sank wearily upon a chair, the color 
slowly fading from her face. “Oh, mon Dieu, 
mon Dieu, ayez pitie de moi,^' she moaned. 

As the peculiar wail fell on his ear he re- 
membered his dream. He looked into her 
face and the same expression of intense agony 
was in her eyes. 

“What is it, darling? What is it?'' 

She covered her face with her hands, and 
did not seem to have heard him. 

“But I will not believe it. It cannot be. 
.Oh, Arrel! My Arrel! Tell me, tell me, 
that the cruel story I overheard tonight is 
untrue. Who is Joan ? and what has she ever 
been to you?" 

His face to.ok on a marble hue. “She was 
never anything to my heart, and I have never 
been the first cause of the downfall of any 
woman. Joan was a frivolous society belle, 
who was a fallen woman before I ever met 
her. She hounded me with every possible 
temptation. At the time I speak of she 
moved in the best society and we were thrown 
together almost every evening. She was a 
beautiful and attractive woman and to her I 
owe my downfall." 

“Oh, my God!" she wailed, “I thought I 
had married ^Arthur,' when suddenly the 


118 


GUYNDINE, 


scales fall from my eyes, and lo ! it is 'Lance- 
lot/ 

He was white to the lips. He walked back 
and forth through the room a time or two, 
then stopped close beside her, and in a coax- 
ing voice said: "Come, Guyndine, darling, 
be reasonable. I have not broken the mar- 
riage vow, and have never had it in my heart 
to stoop to a low act since I first looked 
into your dear eyes. You have been my guar- 
dian angel. I could never go wrong after 
having loved you, and God knows how well 
I love you.’' , 

"Supposing I should tell you that I had 
been true to my marriage vow, but before 
that I had been untrue to myself, would that 
satisfy you ? But oh ! let us talk no more 
about it, for I am sick at heart and to talk 
about it will kill me.” She sank into a per- 
fectly inert silence. She had spoken in a 
calm, dispassioned voice, but it was the calm- 
ness of despair, and the tide of her love, 
which had scarcely reached its full, began to 
recede. This hour marked an epoch in their 
lives. Guyndine continued to treat him with 
the utmost respect, and never by the slightest 
insinuation referred to the matter; but there 
was a look in her eyes which he had never 
before seen there, and something in her man- 
ner which made her unapproachable to him. 
He knew that during her waking hours it was 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 119 


continually in her mind, and that only during 
sleep and hours of extreme business pressure 
was it out of his. The expression of dumb 
agony in her eyes haunted him, and while 
there were neither sighs nor tears, that look 
betrayed the depth of her distress. Outwardly 
she triumphed but in secret her courage 
failed, and he read in her set face the pathetic 
resignation of desperation. 

Was the Judge’s suffering less, think you? 
Every fiber of his being was rooted and 
grounded in her, and he felt to lose her would 
be to lose his reason. He was conscious that 
he had lost her confidence and respect, but 
he felt that with her, love was not so light 
a thing that it could be shaken off with one 
effort. He built his hope for the future on 
this foundation, and resolved to live down the 
past and to do all in his power to regain what 
he had lost. If his life was to yield any 
beauty, splendor of coloring, or subtlety of 
perfume, it must be drawn from her. To 
lose her now would be to cut loose from hope 
and aspiration, and black despair would set- 
tle over his life like a pall, yet he was con- 
scious that slowly but surely she was slip- 
ping away from him. Oh, the bitterness of 
the thought that he might have to stand pas- 
sive and watch his idol drift out of his reach ; 
and again he was reminded of that horxible 


120 


GUYNDINE, 


dream, when he had found his arms full of 
empty air. 

Gentlemen, he is harvesting; his seed has 
yielded a hundred fold, and his crop is not 
yet all in. It will continue to increase with 
each year. Your crop will be ripe one of 
these days, and you will be obliged to go 
out under the rays of the scorching sun, and 
with your little hand sickle, reap it alone. 
Remember, after a seed leaves your hands 
there is no getting it back a single seed; it 
comes back in bundles. The word of God 
is truth itself. Listen: ^'Be not deceived; 
God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man 
soweth, that shall he also reap.'' If you do 
not believe this, go on; your cup of gall is 
waiting for you. You may not have to drink in 
the very same way Judge Kahree drank, but 
sooner or later you will drain the cup to its 
dregs. Society says you are an elegant fel- 
low; but your own heart tells you that you 
are as vile as Satan. Yet you walk up and 
down the earth searching for the very purest 
girl in the land for your wife. Ah me ! 

It was midnight one week after the Judge's 
unfortunate exposure. The house was quiet, 
the servants were all asleep. In the library 
with the gas turned low. Judge Kahree was 
walking the floor. Above in her room Guyn- 
dine had been walking back and forth for 
hours. At times she wrings her hands in 
agony. ''Oh, the bitterness of this cup ! Can 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 121 

it be? Can it be that Arrel, my Arrel, is 
impure? Oh, can it be that he has deceived 
me? Must I give it up and realize that he, 
my cultured and refined husband, is a com- 
mon libertine? Oh, how can I live and en- 
dure the thought.’’ 'She shivered like one in 
a cold draught. “Merciful God, let me die !” 
She sank into a chair, limp and weak; but 
with an effort she again arose and began to 
walk. “This will never do. I must bring my 
will to bear upon myself. My idol has fallen 
and is shattered ; it is gone, gone, gone, and 
I must continue to live. Oh, if I could have 
died while I believed him pure. Father, can 
I endure this ?” 

“Until death.” The words came 

tolling in upon the midnight air 

and struck her heart like a dirge, 

reminding her of her obligation to him who, 
if not the embodiment of her ideal, is her 
wedded husband. Ah, Guyndine, God’s prun- 
ing knife of sorrow will not spare you, for 
thus can he make your life “blossom and bear 
fruit, sending forth beauty and fragrance, into 
the waste places.” As the words “until 
death” sounded on her mind’s ear, the clock 
struck one. She sank on her knees. “God 
in Heaven, help me to be true.” , 

The door was softly pushed open and the 
Judge knelt beside his wife and clasped her 
waist. “Oh, my darling, I cannot endure the 
sight of your agonized face. The knowledge 


122 


GUTNDINE, 


that you are spending the nights grieving 
over my sins, is killing me. I feel that you 
are slipping away from me, but I cannot 
blame, you, for I knew before I married you 
what your ideal of manhood was, and it was 
none too high. But, darling, you do not 
know, you cannot guess, the temptations 
which surround men. Try to realize this and 
forgive me, and, oh, is there nothing I can 
do to regain your confidence? Guyndine, 
little wife, for Christ’s sake, forgive me.” 

She shook and shivered like one in an 
ague. He waited. ''What does this silence 
mean? Does it mean that you will not for- 
give me, even for Christ’s sake? , 

"Oh, Arrel, you know it does not. I for- 
give you freely, but we have crossed a line 
over which it is impossible to return. I am 
powerless to reinstate you in the old place. 
How gladly would I do it if I could ! I would 
blot it out of my memory and confide in you 
as of old, if I had it in my power. But oh, 
this is the heart-crushing thought, that Arrel, 
my noble, my ideal husband is gone forever. 
All I can do now is to take you in his place 
and give you the best that is left.” 

"Ah, Guyndine, that answer, like a drift of 
cruel snow, falls over hope’s tender shoot, 
chilling it through and through. But though 
I am forced to drain the draught to its bit- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 323 


terest dregs, I will not murmur, for I alone 
am to blame. Yet for all this, as you say, 
it is heart-crushing.’’ 

‘'Remember this,. Arrel,” said she, as she 
lay her hand over his, “no sorrow can ever 
crush you without crushing me also.” 

Their lives glided on in this groove for* two 
)^ears; their home was a popular resort for 
the refined and cultured; it was universally 
believed to be a model home. The Judge and 
Guyndine, both in public and in private, 
treated each other with the utmost deference, 
which was frequently commented upon. 

Judging from the disrespect which married 
people so frequently show to each other, one 
would think that the proverb, “familiarity 
breeds contempt,” was made especially to be 
applied to the marriage relation. When men 
and women learn that it requires the same 
tact to retain love that it took to gain it, the 
divorce courts will not be in such demand. 

Guyndine’s vow to “love, honor and obey’’ 
is as fresh as the hour she took it, and her 
grief at learning of her husband’s deception 
still weighs heavily upon her. But in the 
two years of severe trial it never occurred to 
her to write and tell her mother, or call in 
some friend and with sighs and tears bemoan 
her fate, disclose her husband’s faults, and 
thus get help to bear her burdens. This did 


124 


GUYNDINE, 


not accord with her idea of keeping the mar- 
riage vow. Beware of the man or woman 
who can do this. In the language of Abe 
Mulkey, 'Xouisa, let that woman alone/' and, 
Abe, take your own advice and give that 
man a wide berth. 


CHAPTER XL 


“Oh, Breckenbury! I have done these things 
That now give evidence against my soul.” 

Judge Kahree was a well balanced man ot 
sound judgment and fine reasoning ability 
upon almost every subject except one, and 
Guyndine had decided that upon this he was 
a monomaniac. 

He was absolutely determined that she 
should bear no children; he assigned no rea- 
son, except that he did not want them. He 
never showed obstinacy upon any other sub- 
ject, and was always ready to concede any 
point that seemed likely to affect her happi- 
ness or conscience and this affected both se- 
riously ; but he was inexorable and refused to 
hear or discuss the subject. It was a mystery 
to Guyndine; he was totally unlike himself 
when the subject was broached; he at once 
became excited and showed the intensity of 
his feeling by the flushing and paling of his 
face, and for hours afterward he looked sad 
and depressed. What made the mystery 
greater, she had observed that he was pas- 


126 


GUYNDINE, 


sionately fond of children, and could not re- 
sist even a pickaninny. 

Winter was over. The trees were yet leaf- 
less. Nature’s face wore a dark frown. The 
voices of the wind sounded petulant and shrill. 
The violets in the flower seller’s basket looked 
chilled and pitiful. It was one of those bleak, 
early spring days which make a bright, cozy 
home seem doubly attractive. The Judge 
was late that evening and it was after seven 
when they arose from the dinner table. 
Guyndine had been in delicate health for sev- 
eral weeks, and the Judge had been deeply 
concerned; but tonight she was looking un- 
usually well, was becomingly dressed and his 
eyes followed her admiringly and more than 
once a sigh escaped his lips as he remembered 
that he had fallen from his high estate in her 
esteem. She did not seem to notice his sighs 
nowadays and avoided any subject which had 
a tendency towards sentiment. They seated 
themselves in the library under the 
light of the chandelier. The Judge pro:- 
ceeded to cut the leaves of a new Scientific 
Monthly. There was something in the sound 
of the soughing wind that filled Guyndine 
with a sense of approaching sorrow. She 
took a book and tried to read, but soon laid 
it aside and sat with her hands crossed in her 
lap, gazing into the glowing coals in the 
grate. At length she said in a timid voice, 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. JZ7 

^'Arrel, I have something to tell you.’' He 
looked up in surprise. She seldom called 
him Arrel now. Her face was flushed and 
her eyes downcast, and one who did not know 
her well might have thought she was about to 
confess to a crime. He waited a moment, 
expecting her to resume the colloquy. She 
remained silent, and did not lift her eyes. 

‘'Well,” said the Judge, “I am listening.” 

Still she was silent. “Guyndine, why do 
30U hesitate?” 

She flashed him a shy glance. “I am 
rdiaid to tell you,” said she. 

“Afraid ? Afraid of what ?” 

“Of your anger.” 

He gazed at her with increasing astonish- 
ment. “Did you ever see me angry?” 

“Never.” 

“Guyndine, are you quite sure that you are 
in a perfectly sane condition?” 

She was smiling now. “If there is any 
doubt about it,” said she, “perhaps you would 
not care to take my diagnosis of the case." 

“Perhaps not,” said he, leaning toward her 
with a smile and taking her hand. “Let me 
feel your pulse.” He raised it to his lips. 
“And so you are afraid of me? Well, that is 
the last thing I ever expected to hear you 
say. How long since you began to feel 
symptoms of this terror?” There was some- 
thing so comical in his expression and ironi- 


128 


GUYNDINE, 


cal voice that she laughed merrily. “But/’, 
said he, “you have piqued my curiosity. What 
is this dreadful thing you have to relate? 
You haven’t killed anybody lately, have 
you?” The comical expression was still on 
his face and the merry laugh again rang out. 
His face lit up with pleasure for he had not 
heard her laugh for more than two years. 
He drew her face to him and kissing her lips, 
said, with a sigh. “My own little wife, what 
is it you have to say?” 

“Seriously, I am afraid to tell you,” said 
she, looking into his eyes. “I know how you 
feel about it and I know it will disappoint and 
displease you, and yet the prospect to me is 
so very sweet. Oh, Arrel, if you could only 
think differently. I cannot see why it is you 
have such a prejudice.” 

“Well, Guyndine, the longer you 
talk, the more I am convinced that 
there is something wrong up here” (tap- 
ping her on the forehead.) “I haven’t the 
remotest idea what you are talking about. I 
have been racking my brain to try to guess 
but I give it up and as I have become such 
a 'Blue Beard’ in your imagination, I cannot 
conceive how I am ever to ascertain.” 

“Bend over and I will tell you,” said she. 

He leaned forward and she whispered 
something which made him start and turn 
pale. “Are you sure?” 

“Yes, quite sure.” He sat silent for an 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 129 

hour holding a daily paper before his face. 
Then he rose and walked the floor for half an 
hour with a troubled look in his eyes. At 
length he said: “I am going out for awhile 
and it may be late when I return. Perhaps 
you had better not sit up for me.” 

'‘Oh, Arrel,” said she, in surprise, "You 
surely are not going out in this storm, and 
it is growing late.” 

"Yes, I think I must; there is a matter 
I had better see to tonight, if possible.” 

As he was putting on his ulster in the hall, 
Harry came down stairs. "Why, Judge, you 
are not going out tonight? It is raining.” 

"It is rather an inclement night, I know, 
but I have some business which demands 
my immediate attention. I have not far to 
go, so I guess I can make it, if it is a little 
blustery;” and as a cold wave swept in he 
passed out into the storm. The wind came 
in gusts, which at times almost took him off 
his feet, and the rain felt as if it were just 
ready to turn into sleet. After walking about 
four blocks he ascended the broad stone steps 
of a two-story brick residence and rang the 
bell. The door was opened by a colored 
boy. "Bob, is the Doctor in?” 

"Yes, sir; he up stai’s.” 

"Is he alone?” 

"Yes, sir.” 

The Judge ascended the stairs and knocked 
at the first door to the left. It was opened 


G~9 


130 


GUTNDINE, 


by a middle-aged gentleman with a blonde 
mustache. ''Why, hello, Judge ! you out this 
stormy night,'' — as the Judge began to re- 
move his ulster and overshoes in the hall — 
"But I see you are not going to take me out 
in the storm, so I am doubly glad to see yo'ii. 
Come right in," and with a bow and a smile 
the Judge passed into the pleasant, brilliantly 
lighted room and the Doctor closed the door. 

The next evening Doctor Ardery dined at 
Judge Kahree's. In the course of the even- 
ing the Judge said: "By the way, Ardery, 
Mrs. Kahree has been ailing for some weeks ; 
I wish you to see what she needs and pre- 
scribe for her." He felt her pulse, asked 
a few questions, and as he happened to have 
his medicine case with him, left her a few 
powders, directing her to begin early in the 
morning and take one every hour. The next 
afternoon the Doctor was sent for. He found 
her lying in a comatose state, which seemed 
to create no surprise, and very soon she was 
entirely unconscious. He remained with her 
all night, all the next day, and far into the 
night. By this time her life was hanging on 
a mere thread. The Doctor's face unmistak- 
ably wore a frightened look. The Judge, 
with heart throbbing with fear and anguish, 
walked the floor incessantly. His face was 
ghastly, and dark circles were about his eyes. 
"My God, Ardery, how is this going to end?" 

"Don't ask me," snapped the Doctor. "It 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 131 


may end in two fools going over the road in 
handcuffs.'' The Judge groaned, not, how- 
ever, at the prospect of handcuffs ; he knew 
that hands filled with gold seldom wore 
them, but he saw that the Doctor had little 
hope of Guyndine ; and he felt to lose her now 
in this way would kill him. He walked to 
the bedside and bent over her. '‘Oh, Ardery, 
for Heaven's sake don't let her die." 

"Judge, I am doing my very best but the 
crisis is upon us," (the Doctor was white to 
the lips) "and God alone knows what will be 
the result; but whatever it is you must be 
brave and bear it." , 

'Bear it ?" said the Judge. "Do you tell nic 
to bear seeing my wife taken away' from me 
in this way ? It will bear mt 
to the madhouse and from there to the grave. 
Oh, Ardery, save her ! and take every dollar 
I have on earth." 

"You had better call on a higher power," 
said the Doctor, "for to tell you the truth 
I have about exhausted my skill." 

After several hours, which seemed to the 
Judge to have been ages, Guyndine opened 
her eyes and looked into his ; after glancing 
at the Doctor and the nurse, who stood on 
the opposite side of the bed, she wearily 
closed them again. 

"I think now I can leave her for a while," 
said the Doctor, "but a feather's weight will 


132 


GUYNDINE, 


turn the scales and place her beyond hope. 
Keep her very quiet.’’ 

For many weary days Guyndine lay hover- 
ing between life and death. The Judge hung 
over her, like a fond mother over a sick babe, 
and was untiring in his attentions ; his devo- 
tion was remarkable. Watching him through 
her half-closed eyes, as he came to her bed- 
side so many times each day and night and 
hung over her with such fond tenderness, her 
heart received a new baptism of love and 
pity. She thought: 'T know he has been 
sinned against as well as sinning. I must 
forget as well as forgive, and take him back 
into my heart and confidence, even if he did 
deceive me. Such devotion would touch a 
heart of stone. God knows I have never 
ceased to love him ; and poor dear Arrel, 
how he has suffered; his face shows it.” As 
he bent over her she opened her eyes, and 
putting both arms up she drew his face down 
to hers, kissed him and held him in a close 
embrace. If she had struck him in the face 
it would not have been a greater surprise. 

''Arrel, dear, forgive me if I have been too 
hard with you ; the past shall be forever bur- 
ied in oblivion, and from this hour we shall 
begin anew. I love you, Arrel dear, and 
from henceforth I will trust you, for I sin- 
cerely believe you are worthy.” 

It would be impossible to give the reader 
an adequate idea of all that was passing 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 123 


through the Judge's mind at this moment, 
but remorse was paramount. As the sweet 
cup was pressed to his lips, gall was swim- 
ming on the top, mingling in the center, and 
its dregs were at the bottom. ''Guyndine, 
darling, I have deserved it all, but I have one 
plea to offer. I worshipped you ; and, believe 
me, the hardest thing I ever tried to do was 
to practice deception upon you. It was this 
overmastering love that held me back that 
Sunday morning from confessing the truth, 
when you asked me if I had been true. That 
was the first deliberate falsehood my lips ever 
uttered, but I knew what it would mean to 
confess to my immorality, and I had not 
the strength to surrender you. My dear 
wife, you will never know what it has cost me 
to thus deceive you. But if you will again 
confide in me, I will strive from henceforth 
to be worthy of your confidence." 

With a tender smile she held out her trans- 
parent hand to him. A paiig shot through 
his heart as he took it and remembered what 
had made it so pale and thin. Lifting it to 
his lips, he murmured : ''God bless you, my 
darling." , 

Who does not pity this man with his great, 
tender heart? That credence we call hope 
was trembling within, but close beside hope 
stood that "oracle of God," conscience, and 
there was continual unrest. 


CHAPTER XII. 


Another month went by. It was a soft, 
spring day; the green earth was sending up 
its incense sweet ; the streams had burst their 
icy fetters, and leaped in wild delight as they 
joined with twittering bird and humming bee 
to sing again freedom’s glad song. Guyndine 
sat watching the sunlight as it stole in 
through the stained glass, and crept down 
upon the lilies of the valley and the pale moss 
roses at her feet, converting her delicately 
shaded carpet into a bright-hued, variegated 
flower garden, in which she had green lilies 
of the valley and blue moss roses. 

The little clock on the mantel struck five. 
^‘It seems an age since I was down stairs; I 
have a mind to dress and surprise them all by 
going down to dinner.” She stood before 
the mirror and drew the pins from her hair. 

“How pale and thin I am, a mere shadow of 
my old self.” Her face grew sad. “And how 
sorry I am it was all for naught. I wonder 
why God has dealt with me thus ? And what 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE 


135 


could have caused it? But I must not mur- 
mur; it is for the best or it would not have 
been so ; a great relief for poor Arrel. It is 
strange that he should be so averse; passing 
strange!’' Just before the clock struck six 
she rang for the housekeeper to assist her 
down the stairs. 

''Sure to glory,” exclaimed Mrs. O’Connor, 
"it’s yoursel’ that’s a’looking like the swate 
shadow of Mrs. Kahree. Indade, I niver 
thought to be a helpin’ yez down the stairs, 
I expected to see yez coming down fate first, 
with the Judge followin’ all decorated with 
crape. Sure it was a sorrowin’ time we had 
here fer awhile; Mr. Harry, in the library 
a cryin’, and the Judge pacin’ the flure in the 
hall above, niver atin’ enough to kape a 
mouse alive, nor slapin’ at all, at all. It was 
mesel’ that was sorry fer him, and sure it 
was ;” and she left the "swate shadow” stand- 
ing at the head of the table while she went to 
the library to announce dinner. 

As Guyndine stood there waiting, with her 
hands crossed over the back of her chair, 
her faultless form arrayed in the drapery of 
dark green shot silk, out of which rose her 
waxen neck, and the pure face with its crown 
of bright, wavy hair, she reminded one of 
a magnificent white lily. 

. Harry, the Judge, and Dr. Ardery entered 
the room. Harry was first; he sprang for- 


136 


GUYNDINE, 


ward. ‘‘OH, sister, I am so glad!” Putting 
his arm about her waist, he kissed her. 
“Judge, she is growing handsome,” he added, 
laughing. . 

The Judge’s face lit up with pleasure, as he 
saw his wife in her old place. “She has 
never been anything else but handsome since 
I knew her,” said he. As he passed her he 
lifted her hand to his lips and murmured: 
“This is an unexpected pleasure. I cannot 
express my delight.” 

The Doctor offered his hand and congratu- 
lations. She colored slightly as she took the 
proffered hand. 

“Doctor, you will excuse the extravagant 
remarks of these gentlemen under the cir- 
cumstances.” 

“I think,” said he, “flashing a meaning look 
at the Judge, “almost any remark is allowable 
under the circumstances.” 

Little did Judge Kahree think that his lips 
would never again touch that flesh that was 
so dear to him. After dinner he assisted her 
to the parlor; he pressed her close to him 
for a moment as he seated her in an easy 
chair. 

“I shall have to be excused,” said Harry, 
“as I have an engagement, so I will bid you 
good evening.” 

“Well, Judge, “said the Doctor, “let us 
take a short walk and a smoke before we 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 137 


settle down for the evening. That is, pro- 
viding Mrs. Kahree will excuse us.^' 

‘T will excuse you for a walk, but I never 
excuse a smoke,'’ remarked Guyndine. 

‘‘How is this?" asked the Doctor. “That 
trait does not belong to the sunny South ; 
southern ladies do not object to gentlemen 
smoking." 

“Why not ? Perhaps you think us less re- 
fined and fastidious than ladies of the North." 

“Oh, no ! but southern people are credited 
with being more adapted to the voluptuous 
philosophy of Epicurus, and I thought as a 
consequence men were accorded more free- 
dom along those lines ; but I see I shall have 
to admit that women the world over are crea- 
tures of prejudice. But since they have had 
such wide experience in being deprived of 
what they consider their rights, it does seem 
as if they would be more sympathetic toward 
their gentleman friends ; for you see we in- 
herited our morbid appetites from our 
mother Eve." 

“Ah !" said she laughing, “it is evident you 
are a true son of Adam. But you surely 
would not make such a ridiculous comparison 
as that of women asking for the ballot, which 
has for its object, — though it may fail to 
accomplish it — the purifying and upbuilding 
of society, with men gratifying the habitual 
demands of the palate, which must tend to 
the annihilation of the sensibilities of the 


138 


GUYNDINE, 


soul? 1 believe I voice the sentiments of a 
majority of my sex, when I say we do not 
care to vote ; we feel that we are debarred by 
the demands of motherhood and wifehood; 
besides government means law enforced, and 
we have not the physical strength to enforce 
them. If we should be allowed to help create 
a law that would interfere with what men term 
their 'liberty,’ what would it amount to ? For 
instance, saloon men and gamblers do not ob- 
ject to good laws, but it is the enforcement of 
them they dread. We have good laws that 
lie dormant year in and year out ; they are a 
dead letter because they are not enforced ” 

"You are right about that, Mrs. Kahree. 
It would be a blessing to us men if you wo- 
men had a little more muscle; but since y'^ti 
haven’t,” said he laughing, "and since mother 
Eve has brought this upon us, all we can do 
is to cry 'more Keeley.’ ” 

"Oh, Doctor,” said she, "you are incorrigi- 
ble.” 

Laughing, they bowed themselves out- 
The Judge looked back and touched his lips, 
and said : "We shall not be gone long.” The 
door closed and she was alone. 

A feeling of depression settled down upon 
her at once. The same shadow that seemed 
to hang over her the last evening she spent 
in these rooms was hanging over 
her tonight. Was it a presentiment? 
Was it the illusive memory of some evanes- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENOE. V.9 

cent joy, or the shadow of an approaching 
sorrow? or was it caused by her extreme 
weakness? The future seemed to loom vp 
before her like a cold dark wall. She feit 
faint and weary. She rose and went into the 
library; throwing herself upon a couch, she 
fell asleep. 

After a time her slumbers were broken 
by the murmur of voices in an adjoining 
room. Sh'e was half asleep, but she recog- 
nized the Doctor’s voice. 

“It was a fearful shock to her system; I 
think it doubtful if she ever fully recovers, 
and. Judge, you haven’t money enough to 
hire me to take another such risk.” 

The Judge drew a long breath. “The re- 
collection of it is harrowing,” said he, “and 
I hope it will never be necessary to repeat 
it.” 

“Necessary to repeat it? Why, you had 
better cut her throat and be done with it; 
in fact, it would be a mercy rather than to 
repeat it.” 

“So far as I am concerned,” said the Judge, 
“I have no desire to live that experience 
over.” 

After a silence of some minutes, he re- 
sumed : “In fact, I had rather die myself 
than to live it over^ but — ” 

“But,” repeated the Doctor, staring .at 
him in wonder, “You do not mean to say 


140 


GUYNDINE, 


that you could be induced to attempt such 
an experiment again 

The Judge was silent. 

'T cannot understand, Judge, why you are 
so averse to having a family, and dislike chil- 
dren so much. It amounts almost to a mania 
with you. As a rule men admire children 
and desire a family.'' 

‘T do not dislike children," said the Tu-lge. 
'T am passionately fond of them, and the 
greatest grief of my life is the knowledge 
that no lisping baby lips will ever call me 
by the sweet name of papa; no human 
flower ever bloom in my home; no earnest, 
confiding, boyish eyes ever look up to me 
for a father's example. And when the dark 
days come, and old age creeps on apace, and 
the chill wing of woe hangs over me, no fair 
daughter will smooth my silvered hair and 
kiss my troubled brow." He stopped, over- 
come by his emotion. After a moment's 
silence he resumed: ‘^Tbe Cire.»m of Guyn- 
dine’s life is to have a family of children ; but 
it cannot be, it must not be, it shall no^ be!" 

The Doctor sat gazing at him in open- 
mouthed wonder. ‘Ts there hereditary in- 
sanity in the way?" asked the Doctor, think- 
ing he saw signs of it. 

^^No." 

^'Well, what in Heaven's name is it then?'’ 

^Tt is this. A few years ago in my profli- 
gacy I contracted a contagion which has so 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCii]. 


141 


inoculated my blood with poison that I dare 
not transmit it. Ardery, the sins of my early 
manhood are hounding me to death, and I 
believe they will pursue me to the end. If 
1 had married a woman out of the commoti 
herd, one with loose sentiments along this 
line, it would probably have made little differ- 
ence; but what man with right sentiments 
could love such a woman? and while I trem- 
ble for the result, I would not give my peer- 
less wife for ten thousand of that class.’’ 

Guyndine was wide awake now. She 
raised up, gasped for breath, and for the first 
time in her life fell back fainting. When 
she recovered consciousness all was silent in 
the adjoining room. Clasping her hands 
over her heart, which felt as if it had almost 
ceased to beat, her pallid lips murmured: 
''Father of Mercy, let me die.” She lay for 
hours rigid and motionless, with white, set 
face. As the clock was striking eleven, the 
Judge came in. At first glance, he started 
back in horror, fearing she was dead. Hast- 
ening forward he stooped and was about to 
raise her up, when she waved him back. 
“Do not touch me.” 

“Guyndine, what has happened to give you 
a relapse? I see you are very ill.” 

“I am worse than ill,” gasped she, “I am 
dead, dead, dead. My life’s lamp has gone 
out, the ashes of all life’s dreams lie scaii' ered 
at my feet ; hope is ruined ; all is low and 


142 


GUYNDINE, 


fallen and hollow; clay from first to last. I 
have lost all ; I can lose no more ; the play is 
over, let the curtain fall.'' She panted for 
breath. '‘A little more than ^wo years ago, 
I stood before the altar and vowed before 
God to love, honor and obey you until death 
should separate us. This night I heard your 
lips confess to that which has cut the throat 
of love, killed honor, and made it impossible 
for me to longer obey you, without myself 
becoming an accessory to crime." 

The color faded from his face, and he tr-nk 
into a chair. 

‘‘Oh, Guyndine, my darling, my wife.'’ 

“Hush, Arrel ; never call me that again. I 
am no longer your wife. My pronuse was 
only to continue until death separited us. 
Death has separated us. Ay, even m-irder! 
Oh, Arrel Kahree ! whither are you drifting? 
Tamerlane in youth wept over a dead bird; 
afterwards he caused over a million to be 
slain. I have heard you say that In your 
boyhood days you could not kill a butterfly. 
Now you can deliberately take a human life, 
and that the life of — " 

‘Oh, Guyndine, for Heaven’s sake!" — he 
put out his hand imploringly. 

“Arrel, you know I would not wound you 
unnecessarily, but the time has come when 
to remain silent would mean condemnation 
to me. You have committed a crime, which 
if unforgiven, will forever separate you from 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 143 


God and Heaven, which has already sepa- 
rated you from love and wife, and, if pub- 
lished to the world, would mean a felon’s 
cell. Oh, Arrel, Arrel ! How could you ! 
Oh, how could you 

His face was white as death. 

‘‘My darling, you do not mean, you cannot 
mean that you are about to abandon me? 
Surely you will not turn from me. Tell me 
anything else but this ; anything but that you 
have ceased to love me. A felon’s cell is 
nothing compared with losing you. I hi 1 
rather go to hell with you than to Heaven 
without you.” He stretched his arms toward 
her. “Oh, do not abandon one who loves 
you better than he loves God or Heaven.” 

“Arrel, I am powerless; there is now an 
impassable gulf between us; yon yo’irsclf 
made it. You have crushed every particle of 
love and confidence from my heart. 1 could 
mo more pick up and replace the broken petals 
of my affection, than I can replace in fresh- 
ness and fragrance on yonder bush a rose 
which your heel has crushed. The sweet 
dream is oven, and we must now face bleak 
realities, which once seemed to us as im- 
possible, and from this hour — oh, can it be? 
Can it be? — from this hour our paths di- 
verge !” 

She sank back upon the pillow and looked 
like one dying. 

The Judge hastened to the dining room 


144 


GUTNDINE, 


and in a few moments returned with a glass 
of wine which he pressed to her lips. This 
revived her and brought the color back to her 
face. Soon she rose to leave the room. 

‘^You are not strong enough to go alone. 
Let me assist you.’’ 

He rose and took a step toward her. Again 
she waved him back. ''Do not touch me, 
I beg of you.” 

"Guyndine, don’t go till you tell me that 
you will not abandon me.” 

"I will be true to my marriage vow,” said 
she. "Nothing now remains but friendship; 
you shall have that to the end. If you wish 
it I will continue to be your wife in the eyes 
of the world, but I will not consent to 
live in adultery, and the marriage relation 
between us is forever at an end. All that 
made it sweet and sacred is gone. Oh! 
Arrel, it is over; it is all over, and I can 
see nothing but a dark, illimitable ocean of 
trial and suffering spread out before us, a 
waste of deep waters on which we must toss 
at the mercy of relentless wind and wave.” 

He stood there looking like a pale statue 
of himself. "Nothing then remains for me,” 
said he, "but this unsupportable anguish? 
this hopeless despair?” 

"And for me simply duty and a broken 
heart.” As she passed him she took his hand 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCI3. 145 

between both of hers and pressed it. ‘'God 
shield thee, helpless one ! Good night.” 

He attempted to catch her in his arms, 
but she glided past him and was gone, leav- 
ing in his hands a light shawl which was about 
her shoulders. Left alone, he threw himself 
into an easy chair, and sat gazing into the 
open grate till the last bright coal turned to 
gray ashes. It was cool and a little fire had 
been kindled for Guyndine. He was taking a 
retrospective view of his life, and as it passed 
before him in panorama, a part of it filled 
him with shame and remorse. But how 
sweet the memory of his meeting with and 
marriage to this pure, sweet girl; and in 
all his association with her he could not 
recall one word, look, or act that would tend 
to lessen his respect for her. She who in 
the bud had given promise of no great per- 
fection, had under the power of the religion 
of Christ, unfolded into a beautiful character 
flower, whose fragrance stealing over him 
now breathed a mystic language to his heart, 
touching him like a sublime poem, pointing 
him to faith and God. He recalled that sweet 
night when he held her face to the moonlight, 
and in the downcast eyes and quivering lips, 
read that which made his heart leap with joy; 
and again he recalled the dream of that same 
sweet night, when he sought to clasp her in 
his arms and found she was not there. He 
rose and with outstretched arms, wailed: 


G-io 


146 


GUYNDINE, 


“Oh, Guyndine, it cannot be that it is all 
over and that I must drag out an existence 
without you V Great beads of perspiration 
stood on his forehead; his hands were 
clenched, and every nerve was strung to its 
highest tension. 

Could the score of women with whom he 
had flirted — some of whom had shed such 
bitter tears — see him now, would they not 
feel that a Nemesis had well accomplished 
.her task? He walked the floor till the gray 
dawn began to steal in at the window; ex- 
hausted he fell upon a couch and sank into a 
heavy slumber, from which he was aroused 
by a call to breakfast. As he opened his eyes 
and looked about him, his great sorrow met 
him and fell on him like a pall. 

Guyndine had been obliged to resort to a 
sedative ; there was no sleep for her without 
it, and in her weakened condition and present 
state of high nervous tension, a sleepless 
night would be a dangerous experiment. She 
slept well and awoke at daybreak. But there 
was a load weighing her down ; what was it ? 
What had happened ? It was several minutes 
before she could collect her scattered senses 
to recall the events of the preceding evening, 
and when it came it rushed upon her with 
such force that with a low wail she sprang 
up and pressed both hands to her heart. 
Quivering and throbbing with pain as a sud- 
den wave of memory carried her back to the 


A WOMAN WITH A r^ONB^'ExNCE. Hi 

sun-crowned days of perfect trust, when liv- 
ing and breathing in the presence of him 
in whom she believed as the embodiment of 
honor and virtue, converted life’s rugged 
pathway into a delightful avenue winding 
through gardens of dewy fragrance. She 
saw herself as she tripped on and on, parting 
the blossoming boughs to pass into unex- 
plored paths of sweetness, when lo ! among 
the daisies at her feet is a little heap of ashes, 
all that is left of life’s radiant hopes. 

Of all the sorrows, which the blighting 
curse of sin has cast upon this earth, there 
it none to compare with that of finding one 
we have trusted and believed pure, lying nude 
and repulsive at our feet. Oh, it is sickening. 

No human will ever know Guyndine’s 
struggle of the next two hours ; but with the 
help of God and her indomitable will, she 
mastered herself. Fresh from her morning 
ablutions, she dressed herself with her usual 
care and calmly descended to breakfast. 

When the Judge entered the dining room 
he found Harry reading the morning paper, 
and Guyndine standing by the open window. 
It was one of those refreshing spring morn- 
ings that seem to give one a new lease on 
life. The windows were up, and a choir of 
chirruping minstrels was in the trees without. 
The breakfast was steaming on the table and 


148 


GUYNDINB, 


as he entered, Guyndine, with a smile and a 
bow, took her seat at the table. 

She was determined that for once Harry 
should not read her; he should never guess 
that she was disappointed nor that the Judge 
had a fault in her eyes. No one but God 
should ever know. She knew she would have 
to play her part well. As her eyes met the 
handsome dark orbs of her husband a pang 
shot through her and she was conscious that 
love still lived deep within. 

Language is too tame to portray the emo- 
tions of this petted man of the world, who 
had heretofore been accustomed to having 
things go his way; who now feels that he is 
impoverished, utterly ruined in all that 
would tend to make life sweet; master of 
hundreds of thousands, yet unable to pur- 
chase the one thing needful to his happiness. 
Oh, how he covets the affections of that 
pale, slender woman sitting opposite him! 
He would willingly give up every dollar and 
go forth homeless and feel that he was rich, 
if he could but have her love. His fine eyes 
rested upon her face for a moment ; with a 
sweeping glance he took in every article of 
dress. She wore, a pretty morning gown of 
dotted Swiss, in navy and white over pale 
cowslip yellow. How becoming it was with 
its quilling of soft lace falling away from the 
white throat ! Never had he loved her as 
now. He envied the bunch of sweet violets 


A 770MAN WITH A CONSOi'ENCK. 149 


that nestled so dose against her alabaster 
neck, and he wished for just one because 
it had touched the flesh that was so dear to 
him. His glance wandered to the pretty 
hands — the wedding ring was gone from her 
finger. > 

Harry was in a jolly mood, read aloud an 
amusing article fom the paper, had some 
pleasant down-town news to relate, and the 
breakfast passed without anything unusual 
becoming apparent. 

That evening at dinner, the Judge found a 
note on his plate which ran: ''Friend Arrel, 
our room is at your disposal tonight. I 
have removed my effects to the adjoining 
room. Harry and the servants shall never 
know. Your friend, Guyndine.'' As he fin- 
ished reading the note, their eyes met, and 
she never forgot that look. Oh, how she 
pitied him ! He saw her eyes fill with tears 
and it gave him hope. But the words, "Friend 
Arrel,'' spoke volumes and they haunted him ; 
but he determined not to relinquish her with- 
out one more effort. 

After dinner they adjourned as usual to the 
library. Guyndine seated herself with a book 
which she held open, but did not read. For 
awhile Harry attempted to carry on conver- 
sation with the Judge, who seemed strangely 
absent-minded and complained of a severe 
headache. 

After a time, Harry took his hat and went 


150 


GUYNDINE, 


out.- Guyndine arose and stepping through 
a French window disappeared among the 
shrubbery. The Judge followed her, and 
coming up with her, he threw his arm about 
her and his earnest, eloquent lips began their 
pleading. With a low cry of pain, she drew 
herself from him, hastened back to the house, 
up to her own room, and, throwing herself 
on the bed, she buried her face in the pillow. 

The Judge never knew what it cost Guyn- 
dine to turn from him that night. It took 
all the strength of her strong will to resist 
him. They drifted on. No pen can portray 
the anguish of these two noble hearts. 

They entertained together, visited together, 
attended church together, spent evenings at 
home alone together. He read to her, and 
she sang and played for him, and through 
it all she refused to hear one word on the 
subject nearest his heart ; the least hint in 
that direction was a signal for her to bid him 
good night. Yet, hope lingered in his breast. 
She was all to him that any pure, right- 
minded woman could be under the circum- 
stances. Sister, comforter, counselor, friend. 
Home was a sweet, restful place where he 
was always met with a smile. If he was ill 
her soft hands were ever ready to minister 
to his wants ; always willing, never weary. 
He was surrounded with all that money and 
worldly influence could give to make a man 
happy, but to say that he was happy would 


A WOMAN WITH A CONHCIENCH. 151 


be to make a most erroneous statement. 
He felt like one, who tied hand and foot, 
was dying of hunger in sight of a feast. A 
man of less judgment, with his passionate 
love, would in all probability have made it im- 
possible for her to live under the same roof 
with him. But he felt that in justice and 
equity, his side of the question would admit 
of no argument. All he could do would be 
to plead, and his pleading would necessarily 
be at direct antagonism with her conscience, 
and he knew that under existing conditions 
silence was wisdom, for purity, honor and 
God himself were on her side. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


“O, let me help thee bear thy heavy cross up 
the via dolorosa. 

Years have glided by. The sun rose 
clear and bright on a sweet October morn- 
ing, the seventh anniversary of the marriage 
of Guyndine Vauce with Judge A. J. Kahree. 

Harry had gone back to Georgia and was 

practicing law at the city of A . The 

Judge and Guyndine were alone, and as they 
seated themselves at the breakfast table their 
thoughts were similar. Both remembered 
the day and, with sad hearts, recalled their 
transient felicity. After the exchange of a 
few commonplace remarks, they ate in si- 
lence. Twice during the meal their eyes met 
and there was so much sadness and despair 
in the look that the heart of each went out in 
sympathy to the other. After breakfast 
Guyndine went to the library, and the Judge, 
instead of going down town as usual, followed 
her. She stood by a window, with her back 
to him. He walked directly to her, put his 
arm about her and drew her to him. She 
looked up surprised and tried to draw away. 
^Xet me hold you for one brief moment 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE 


153 


My arms have not encircled you for long 
years. Guyndine, this life is killing me. T 
can no longer endure it. Once more and for 
the last time I have come to ask you to for- 
give and forget the past, and return to me. 
That I have sinned, I do not deny; have I 
not suffered enough to atone for it? Re- 
member, to forgive is divine.'' 

“Why, Arrel," said she, looking up into his 
face in surprise, “of what are you talking? 
I forgave you years ago, and I have tried to 
show by every act of my life that my heart 
was full of forgiveness and pity." 

“Yes, oh, yes!" said he. “You have been 
kind and sweet; but forgiveness and pity 
cannot satisfy me. I must have your love 
or I cannot longer endure life under the 
same roof with you ; it has become extremest 
torture. I must have my lost wife back 
again, this precious head must again be pil- 
lowed upon my bosom, and I must be al- 
lowed to kiss your lips as of yore or I must 
leave you forever." 

“Oh, Arrel 1 you are asking for what I have 
not the power to bestow. Love is not to be 
called up and dismissed at will. I know 
your suffering has been intense, but I have 
suffered with you; for every pang that you 
have felt a corresponding one has struck me. 
I told you that dreadful night that the throat 
of love was cut, but I did not know my own 
heart. I learned later that it was only 


154 


GUYNDINE, 


Stunned, and for many weary months and 
years I have fought it” 

''Oh, thank God,’' he interrupted, "then you 
yet love me.” 

"Hear me through,” said she, "after years 
of struggle I think I can say that I have 
conquered. If I could stifle conscience and 
return to you, a life of adultery would be the 
result, and the loss of your soul and mine the 
ultimate consequences. Even if I loved you 
I should not dare to live the life I should be 
forced to live under existing conditions. In 
the sight of God I should be no better than 
those poor creatures who resort to houses of 
assignation. You know it, and it would be 
but a question of time until you would cease 
to respect me, but the kind of love you would 
have for me then, I do not want from any 
man.” 

"There is no hope then?” 

"None whatever.” 

Withdrawing his arm from her waist, he 
took a step away. For some time he stood 
leaning against the mantle, silent and 
thoughtful. At length he said: "During 
these years of silent daily and hourly tor- 
ture, there has never been a time when there 
was not a lurking hope that your love might 
revive and outweigh your scruples. That 
hope is now crushed ; and I must leave you, 
leave you forever ; go into foreign lands and 
try to forget you. In three days I shall leave 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 155 

this city for an extended tour in the old world 
hoping thus to be able to blot from my heart 
the only image that was ever enthroned there. 
And, Guyndine, I exonerate you from all 
blame. You have been faithful and true. 
You have done everything but compromise 
your purity. I wish you to remain here, re- 
tain the servants, forget the past, and try 
to be happy.’’ 

Guyndine was silent, but while he was yet 
speaking she had decided upon the course 
she would pursue. 

''With such love as mine,” he continued, 
"in such an environment, life becomes un- 
bearable. But I would not have you feel that 
I look upon our marriage as having been a 
failure. It has been my salvation, and your 
Christian example will be a purifying influ- 
ence in my heart and life, bearing me upward 
through all eternity.” 

Clasping his hand in both of hers, she sank 
on her knees at his feet. "Oh, thank you! 
and thank God! All my suffering is as 
naught since you have told me this.” Hold- 
ing his hand in her warm clasp, she bowed 
her head upon it. 

He felt the old thrill creeping upon him, 
which always came with the touch of her 
hand. "At first,” continued he, "I was 
drawn to you by an irresistible, magnetic 


156 


GUYNDINE, 


force, which completely overwhelmed the ani- 
mal nature, and would probably, in a way, 
have held me even if I should have ceased to 
respect you, but after seven years of life with 
you, having made a close study of your char- 
acter, I feel my spirit held in thralldom by a 
force stronger than magnetism. You have 
walked before me in such a way as to restore 
my faith in woman. I had come to believe 
that the sex was devoid of conscience, that 
it was a compound of selfishness and vanity. 
I was mistaken. I know there is one woman 
of pronounced convictions, who will follow 
the dictates of a pure conscience under any 
and all circumstances, and that woman, thank 
God, bears my name, and the world calls her 
my wife, and for the sake of my mother, who 
died before I can remember, I thank God that 
He sent you to me to teach me this. And, 
Guyndine, the purest and best that is within 
me bows in adoration to your God, and I 
promise you that from henceforth I will strive 
to love and follow your Christ. For your 
sake I will never cease my effort till I stand 
before God in a justified state, pardoned for 
Christ's sake." 

Guyndine sank upon the floor in a limp 
heap and sobbed like a broken hearted child. 
He had never before seen her weep. He 
was a man whose emotional nature was well 
under control. He stood for a moment with 
folded arms looking down upon her, and his 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 157 


agitation became so great that to keep from 
breaking down and sobbing with her, he left 
the room and the house, wiping away tears 
as he went. 

When she heard the street door close be- 
hind him she broke into fresh sobs. It 
sounded to her like the first clod falling on 
his coffin lid. ''Oh! I shall never look into 
his dear eyes again, never, never. Oh, Arrel, 
Arrel, how can I endure it.’’ For a long time 
she lay there, her frame shaken with sobs. 
At last she rose and stood with her hand on 
the door knob, looking about her. "Good- 
bye, beautiful home, I must leave you; duty 
demands it. ’Tis hard for one protected as 
I have always been to turn from such a home 
as this, and go forth to face the cruel blast 
with unsheltered head, but when I remember 
my Elder Brother who left the glory land and 
for the sake of duty faced the same cold, un- 
feeling world for thirty-three years, it gives 
me courage and strength. I shall not go 
alone, thank God.” Smiling through her 
tears, she passed from room to room. "Fare- 
well, dear home, a long, long farewell. 
Tenderly have you sheltered me, while in 
those ideal days I dreamed life’s sweetest 
dream, learned its saddest lesson, and died 
its bitterest death. Oh, heart of mine, are 
you breaking? or have you endurance to suf- 
fer on? Shall you ever know another throb 
of joy? ever again feel the warmth of sun- 


158 


GUYNDINE, 


light, or beat responsive to laugh of happy 
child or bird's glad song? Dear old trees 
that seem to bend and kiss the roof, reaching 
out strong arms protectingly, as if to ward 
off earth's storms ; how oft in twilight's mys- 
tic hour, while yet the rose tint lingered in 
the clouds, and the breath of flowers mingled 
with the dew, have I listened as you sang to 
me, whispering ever of my hero, my husband. 
And later, when bowed in grief, I sat in 
solitude, you changed your tune and sang a 
mournful song, and I fancied you pitied him 
and pitied me. But today we part forever, 
and forever. You will never sing to me 
again ; but I cannot die. I must live on, and 
live out life's dreadful tragedy. And shall I 
charge it to fate that hope was blasted in the 
bud and my life left in throes of grief. Oh, 
mamma ! I must not blame you, but how I 
wish you had set me right. If I have sinned 
it was unwittingly, and God can overrule it 
for His honor and glory as He did in Joseph's 
case when his brethren sold him into Egypt ; 
for we who trust God are not as autumn 
leaves, frail playthings of the wind, but by 
faith we wrap the purple drapery of royal 
robes about us, and give all our mistakes into 
the hands of our Sire, the King." 

In the back parlor was a life size picture 
of Judge Kahree, taken just before their mar- 
riage. As she entered the room and looked 
up, the handsome dark eyes met hers with a 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 159 


look of such pleading tenderness that she fell 
on her knees and again wailed : ‘‘Oh, Arrel ! 

iVrrel ! How can I leave you ? How can I 
bear the thought that I shall never look into 
those kind eyes again ? It is killing me 

She rushed out of the parlor, and up to her 
own room. Throwing herself upon the bed 
she lay moaning piteously. 

After awhile she said: “Oh, why do I 
falter? This will never do.’' She arose, 
bathed her face, brushed her disheveled hair, 
and opening a wordrobe, selected from it her 
plainest articles of clothing, and packed them 
in a trunk, which she locked and securely 
strapped. Putting a few toilet articles into 
a small valise, she changed her pretty wrap- 
per for a brown cashmere. Taking a purse 
from a drawer she counted the contents. 
“When I arrive at St. Louis, I shall have but 
ten dollars left. It seems a risky thing to do, 
but there is no other way.” 

Kneeling, she asked God’s protecting care 
over the one she was about to leave forever. 
She consecrated herself afresh, promising 
that if He would lead her and make her ef- 
forts a blessing to the world, she would neith- 
er swerve to the right nor to the left. Rising, 
she rang the bell. Mrs. O’Connor came. 

“I wish you would send Jones to me.” 

“Well, mum, sure and I will thin.” Mrs. 
O’Connor glanced back ; she saw that Guyn- 
dine had been weeping. “I wonder what ails 


160 


GUTNDINE, 


the swate one. Sure it can’t be anything 
the Judge has done for he worships the 
ground she walks on, and ivery hair of her 
head is pure gold to him.” 

Jones soon appeared. I am obliged 

to make the eleven o’clock St. Louis express, 
and I wish this trunk taken to the depot at 
once.” She looked at her watch. ‘‘It is but 
an hour till train time, so do not lose any 
time.” 

“You want the surrey?” asked Jones. 

“No, I will take a cab.” 

Jones eyed her curiously; he, too, saw that 
she had been weeping. “Well,” soliloquized 
he, “I guess it’s no difference how good a 
time anybody has in this world, they always 
manage to find something to cry about ; but 
I’m blamed if I can see what she’s got.” 

Seating herself at her writing desk Guyn- 
dine penned the following: “Dear Arrel: — 
Did you think I could remain sheltered in 
your home, while you were driven into for- 
eign lands to escape me? When you read 
this I shall be many miles away. Try to 
forget me as quickly as possible. You have 
been all that a husband could be with the 
environments. Good bye, dear Arrel, and 
may we meet in the land where no good byes 
will ever be spoken. God bless and keep you, 
is the prayer of your desolate Guyndine.” 

Putting on a brown hat and veil she went 
in search of the housekeeper. “Mrs. O’Con- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 161 


nor, please hand this note to the Judge. I 
am unexpectedly called away and this will 
explain to him/' Going out she walked a 
block, hailed a cab, and was driven to the de- 
pot, where she found the train waiting. 

Mrs. O'Connor told the other servants 
that, “Mrs. Kahree got a dispatch tellin’ her 
that her mother or her brother or somebody 
was sure a dyin', an' she put on her hat an' 
started right off, just waitin' long enough to 
write a small note to the Judge." 

When the Judge came in at six, Mrs. 
O'Connor met him in the hall with Guyn- 
dine's letter. His heart sank as he recog- 
nized the handwriting. He went to the li- 
brary and closed the door before opening the 
letter. The dinner was carried from the table 
that day untouched and the gray dawn 
found the Judge again pacing the floor. Mrs, 
O'Connor reported to the cook and Jones 
that “he was such a baby about her that he 
could nayther ate nor slape when she was 
away." 

One week later, strangers had possession 
of the Kahree home, and it was reported that 
the Judge had unexpectedly received a busi- 
ness call to Europe. 

A few minutes after Guyndine entered the 
car, she was moving eastward as rapidly as 
steam and steel could carry her. Dazed and 
heartsick, she sat gazing out of the window, 
seeing nothing. Whirling before her eyes, 


G-ll 


162 


GUYNDINE, 


was a confused mass of earth, sky, fences, 
trees, houses, horses and cattle. Mingling 
in her ears was the roar and rattle of the run - 
ning train, and the chatter and chatter of the 
passengers about her; but she heard it not. 
Her face was white and set, and her eyes 
seemed to be looking away into the distance. 
What was to be the end of all this? If for 
a moment she turned her eyes backward, 
duty said: ''Remember Lot’s wife.” Ahead 
all was inky darkness, and only as she looked 
up to God could she find a ray of light. 

"Tickets,” shouted the conductor. She 
did not hear. He stopped close beside her. 
"Tickets, please.” She was still unheeding, 
and he touched her on the shoulder. She 
started like one aroused from sleep. As she 
handed him her ticket and was turning again 
to the window, she met the gaze of a pair of 
dark brown eyes in a seat opposite. He was 
a man of exceptionally fine appearance, and 
for a moment her attention was attracted to 
the portly form and fine physique ; the broad, 
intellectual forehead, dark curling hair, long 
silky mustache and refined classic features. 

Strange beings are we that, during the 
most intense mental or physical anguish, we 
should note details with perhaps more acute - 
ness than in our moments of happy restful- 
ness. We will observe the smallest insect 
that may pass before our vision, and notice 
any peculiarity it may possess, even while our 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 163 


senses are dulled and blunted to every earthly 
interest. The drowning man will see the 
little fly that buzzes about his head, or a tiny 
spider swimming on the water; and to the 
last he will wonder if the spider could catch 
the fly if it should fall into the water. Guyn- 
dine gave the man in the opposite seat but a 
passing thought : ''A man far above the ord- 

inary and turning away she returned to her 
retrospective mood where the conductor had 
interrupted it. She lived it all over, the 
sweetness, the sadness, the anguish. For 
hours she sat, scarcely moving a muscle or 
changing her position, her elbow on the win- 
dow sill, her face resting on her hand, 
and looking straight before her. 

The man across the aisle was intensely 
interested. Perhaps it was the shadow of the 
great sorrow on her young face which first 
drew his attention ; but the longer he studied 
her the more absorbing became his interest. 
He had gazed upon many more beautiful 
faces, but never upon one where the play 
of soul was so perfect. Her spirit seemed 
seated on a throne apart from the surround- 
ing world, and, oblivious to externals, seemed 
to be living in another sphere where gladness 
was never known. He knew he was not 
mistaken when he read in that face character 
of the highest type. What would he not give 
to know her history ! 

The gentleman whom we are now introduc- 


164 


GUYNDINE, 


ing to our reader, has figured conspicuously 
in the highest political and social circles in 
America and as he has not yet had the 'date 
lamented'' mentioned in connection with his 
name, these pages will know him as the Hon. 
Edgar Grannell, who has recently returned 
from a two years' absence as minister to a 
foreign country. His political career was 
one to which had been attached no stigma. 
No shadow had ever touched his fair name. 
He did not belong to that herd of politicians 
who wander up and down America's fair 
soil, disgracing the name, who, Proteus-likc, 
as Mason says, "must alter his face and habit, 
and, like water, seem of the same color as 
the vessel that doth contain it; who, with 
passionate oaths, with sighs, smooth glances 
and officious terms spread artificial mist be- 
fore the eyes of credulous simplicity,” Ah, 
no ! and he did not belong to the "fawning, 
lying, parasitic herd,” that herd of "busy, 
buzzing, burdened knaves,” that herd of 
"quaint, smooth rogues,” who, infidels at 
heart, do not scruple at entering the church 
and polluting the fair robes of Christ by 
drawing them over their vile forms for pol- 
icy sake. Nor had he chosen his profession 
from a groveling motive. His genius and 
inclination ran that way, and he saw in it an 
opportunity to help his fellowmen, and to 
develop his noblest and most virile manhood. 
While he was not a Christian, he made the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 165 


real needs of humanity a study, and he left 
selfishness so far out of the question that he 
never failed to use his influence to arbitrate 
every malicious case that he could out of 
court; and he made it a point to never take 
a case that he had a suspicion had not right 
on its side. A man can be true and be a 
lawyer, yes, even a lawyer. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


Man is at heart a dreamer. He builds 
his airy castle and with his wife and children 
moves into it, and floating above the clouds of 
smoke and the din of earth’s workshops, he 
quaffs from the cup of bliss. But when he 
finds himself in possession of the real wife 
and children, and the building material for 
the structure — that he once thought it would 
be next to impossible for him to obtain — 
is at hand, he toilfully begins the erection of 
his building, and forgets his dream, and why 
he would build, and the poetry of life gives 
place to the hard, prosaic business that grinds 
the soul. The reality of his dream has ab- 
sorbed all the soft, pleasant fancies of his 
emotional nature, and left — alas ! — a man cold 
and grim. 

Go, Morpheus, to the vale of Trophet! 

He sacrificeth there to Moloch, 

Go, kiss his weary eyelids. 

As thou didst in days of yore. 

Let him float on fleecy billows ; 

Rest his head on downy pillows ; 

Oh, let him dream his youthful dreams 
once more! 

Lift him to that bright elysium 

Where he may see the land of song: 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 167 

And let him thirst beside the sacred stream 
That flows from Helicon. 

His round of dreary task work, 

Has robbed his life and soul 
Of the poesy from dreamland 
That was wont to hear his call. 

His mind makes no more pictures 
Of fountains larg^e and fair, 

Of cottag^e home, or palace. 

With wife and children there. 

Alas, his dreams are realized. 

And tossed by wind and wave. 

Though he may be a castled lord. 

He is a wretched slave. 

''Wretched is the man/' says Goethe, "who 
has learned to despise the dreams of his 
youth." 

The Hon. Edgar Grannell, though but 
thirty years of age, has ceased to dream. His 
airy vision was dispelled at twenty when the 
bird with the sable wing swooped down and 
seized a little rustic maiden of sixteen, 
around whom his every plan for the future 
was circling. With this, his first great grief 
lying heavily upon his heart,, he rushed into 
politics, hoping thus to get away from the 
cankering memory of his sorrow. As he out- 
lived his sorrows, he outgrew his dreams, and 
he had quite forgotten that he ever dreamed. 
But today he was retrospective, walking 
through the shadowy past, breathing the 
fresh air of life's morning ; 

Standing again in the sunset glow 
With the girl he loved in the long ago. 

"Ah, how I dreamed of perpetual bliss, 


168 


GUTNDINE, 


eternal sunshine, perspectives of endless joy.” 

It was nig:ht when they reached St. Louis. 
The Hon. Edgar Grannell kept Guyndine in 
sight till she entered a cab and was driven 
away, when he surprised himself by drawing 
a long sigh. Smiling he soliloquized : ‘‘This 
is marvelous ; after having turned from scores 
of beautiful women without caring for a sec- 
ond glance, I now find myself gazing, and ac- 
tually sighing after — I know not whom. Ha, 
ha, ha, it is incredible. Dotage does not 
commonly overtake a man at thirty; it must 
be natural born imbecility ; but she is cer- 
tainly sans partie,^^ 

That night in his dreams he was a boy 
again and was weaving a crown of apple 
blossoms for Roxey, his old sweetheart. As 
he finished the wreath and was about to place 
it upon her brow, she unfurled a pair of snowy 
wings and flew away, pointing to a form 
which stood near, she said : “I cannot 
wear it, Edgar, crown her.” A peculiar 
thrill swept through him as he gazed into 
the deep gray eyes before him. He took a 
step toward her. She waved him back. “No ; 
see, I am already crowned,” and on the fair 
brow, falling over the bright hair, was a 
wreath of cypress and tuberoses. 

After driving several blocks, the cab bear- 
ing Guyndine stopped in front of a two-story 
frame house in a respectable locality. A ser- 
vant admitted her and she was ushered into 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 169 


a small, neat parlor. She handed him a card 
and remained standing. 

Soon there appeared a sweet-faced old 
lady, with a soft voice and refined manner. 
Seeing Guyndine she suddenly stopped, took 
a step forward and stopped again. “It can- 
not be,’’ she said, “and yet — ” 

“It is, though,” said Guyndine, extending 
her hand, which was caught and kissed again 
and again. 

“Oh, Mrs. Kahree, how very glad I am 
to see you once more. My heart has ached 
for the sight of your face and the sound of 
your sweet, kind voice. But where is the 
Judge? Is he well? How I would like to 
see him.” 

“He is. in Kansas City, and very well, 
thank you.” 

“But,” said Mrs. Banks, “I must not keep 
you standing here; you are weary and need 
rest and refreshments. John,” said she, call- 
ing to a servant, “have this trunk taken to 
number ten. Now, Mrs. Kahree, if you will 
follow me, I will see that you have refresh- 
ments at once.^’ 

Number ten was a large, well ventilated, 
well furnished front room. Mrs. Banks ar- 
ranged everything for Guyndine’s conven- 
ience and comfort, saying as she left the 
room, “When you are ready please ring and 
I will send the supper up.” 

Mrs. Banks had for one year been Guyn- 


170 


GUYNDINE, 


dine's housekeeper. It was she who opened 
the door to admit her the first time to her 
Kansas City home. The faithful creature 
had become tenderly attached to her. It was 
mutual and Guyndine felt that among all her 
aristocratic acquaintances there was none to 
whom she could turn in her hour of trial 
as to this unpretentious Christian woman. 

After having refreshed herself with a bath 
and changed her heavy dress for a light 
negligee, she rang the bell. John soon ap- 
peared bearing a tray, the contents of which 
he arranged in nice order on a small round 
table. Bowing very low, he said: 'Ts da 
anyting else you wishes, please, ma’am?’’ 

“It is nearly midnight, but I should like to 
see Mrs. Banks again. Will you kindly tell 
her?” 

“Y-e-s-’-m,” and with another flourishing 
bow, John withdrew. 

John was a yellow^ dandy, and his bow, 
which he called his “bend-a-ma-lah,” and 
on which he spent much time practicing be- 
fore the mirror, was something wonderful. 
He divided his time between practicing the 
“bend-a-ma-lah,” kissing and saying sweet 
things to Lena, the chambermaid — who next 
to himself he considered the sweetest thing 
upon earth — “dressin’ hisse’f up,” and a small 
amount of work. 

When Mrs. Banks appeared Guyndine 
said : “Bear Mrs. Banks, I have something 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 171 


to say to you, which I must say tonight. 
I know you to be a true Christian woman, 
on whom I can depend. I have turned to you 
in an hour of deep trouble.'’ She paused and 
a slight tremor passed over her face. To be 
obliged to give utterance to what she must 
now say seemed a degradation; she felt be- 
numbed to everything but inward throbbings. 
Her inexperience had prevented her from 
considering details, and she had not reflected 
that her own lips would be required to make 
some sort of explanation, and to do so seem- 
ed like sacrilege. As a strong body strug- 
gles with a stiff current, her mind struggled 
with its finer self. The bitterness of it all 
came upon her with a new vividness. A sob 
rose in her throat; with a mighty effort she 
suppressed it as she continued : ‘T have told 
you that Judge Kahree is well, but, Mrs. 
Banks, I am a widow." 

Mrs. Banks threw up her hands in as- 
tonishment. 

''He was a kind, loving husband," contin- 
ued Guyndine, "but there are circumstances 
over which neither of us had any control, 
which made it impossible for us to remain 
longer under the same roof. He insisted 
upon supporting me and wished me to remain 
in the home and let him go into foreign lands 
and strive to forget me. I left him without 
his knowledge or consent. I wish to remain 
with you for a time. I shall support myself 


172 


GUYNDINE. 


by teaching music and French. I wish my 
history to be withheld from even your closest 
friends.'' 

Mrs. Banks was quite overcome by the 
knowledge of the breaking up of this model 
family. She sat silently wiping the tears. 
‘'I would not think of questioning you, Mrs. 
Kahree, but I cannot realize this, nor under- 
stand it. He was the most devoted husband 
I ever saw and you one of the truest and 
tenderest of wives." 

''Perhaps," said Guyndine, "I had better be 
a little more explicit lest you form an erro- 
neous opinion. The real trouble between us 
was the Judge's aversion to my bearing chil- 
dren." 

"How very strange," said Mrs. Banks, "I 
thought he was especially fond of children; 
in fact, I have heard him say as much. Could 
you not have prevailed with him?" 

See how carefully Guyndine guards his 
secret. Her marriage vow is still green in 
her memory. If she cannot love and obey, 
she will honor to the last. "No," replied she, 
"my powers of persuasion have, long since 
been exhausted without avail. " 

"Surel}^," said Mrs. Banks, "he will not 
give you up so easily ; he will search you out, 
concede the point in question, and take you 
home." 

She continued to wipe the tears which 
would flow in spite of her efforts to keep 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 173 


them back. Remembering Judge Kahree’s 
kindness to herself, and his devotion to his 
wife, she could not reconcile herself to the 
thought of his wandering friendless and alone 
in foreign lands, separated from the wife she 
knew he once idolized. 

“Mrs. Banks, while I look upon marriage 
as a sacrament whose solemnity reaches into 
eternity, that it is indissoluble, except by an 
act of God, I have left Judge Kahree forever. 
I am bound to him by a vow which only death 
can sever. I shall remain true to my vow, 
but I shall never see his face again. I have 
not chosen this path ; fate seems* to have 
chosen it for me ; but I know my duty and I 
shall do it though my heart breaks.’' 

“Although I do not understand it,” said 
Mrs. Banks, “knowing you as I do, I feel 
sure that you know you are doing right. I 
have had glimpses in the past of the clear 
vision, and undaunted determination and 
moral loftiness of your character which I 
know, under God, will lead you right. You 
certainly take the correct view of marriage, 
and of that crime so widely practiced. I 
am thankful that you have the courage to 
stand out and hold up the banner of purity. 
I shudder at the thought that this crime is 
popular even in the church. Verily the peo- 
ple are being saved in their sins. The reason 
for the loss of vitality in the Church, for the 
blight that has settled on all the denomina- 


174 


GUYNDINE, 


tions, in the whole land, is obvious ; the con- 
doning of this evil, together with the church 
entertainment, which started as a parasite 
and, by tolerance, has grown into an extor- 
tionate monster, is sucking the life from the 
sacred body into which Jehovah breathed the 
breath of life; and the watchmen upon the 
walls who have not lifted up their voice 
against these evils should read Ezekiel 32:6, 
and look at their hands which are red with 
innocent blood. They have helped to build 
high places for Chemosh and Moloch. They 
have helped to beat the drum and cymbal 
loud as innocent offerings were passed 
through the fire to these grim idols.’’ 

''The age has come,” said Guyndine, "when 
there is no possible excuse for the individual 
who fails to study the word of God for him- 
self.” 

"God’s blessing will surely follow you,” 
said Mrs. Banks. "Our smallest acts of self- 
sacrifice, when the motive is pure, are always 
followed by a blessing; and, like Moses, you 
have deliberately turned from all that the 
world calls great and good for the sake of 
right. This act of noble self-sacrifice will 
set in motion influences which will evolve 
into a chain of events that in the dawn of 
eternity will amaze you with its immensity.” 

"Oh, I thank you for those words of com- 
fort,” said Guyndine. 

"I appreciate the honor you have done me 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 175 


in thus turning to me, your former servant, 
in your trouble,’' said Mrs. Banks. ‘‘And if 
the friendship of one so humble can comfort 
or help you, it is freely given.” 

These words fell upon Guyndine’s troubled 
heart like a soothing balm. She retired, 
feeling rested and comforted, and slept well 
all night. But sorrow was still on her track. 
Three days later she read in a daily paper 
the following: 

“The city of A , in the state of Georgia, 

has been visited by a cyclone. The family 
of Squire Spencer, consisting of himself, his 
wife and two children, were all killed.” 

The shock was so severe that Guyndine 
was prostrated with grief. She felt that her 
burdens were almost more than she could 
endure. Mrs. Banks was untiring in her ef- 
forts to console her. Many times a day she 
came with her Bible to read some comforting 
passage, or pray beside her that God would 
give her strength to endure and grace to be 
thankful for affliction. The voice of the kind 
old lady fell upon her weary spirit like oil 
upon troubled waters, and she bravely and 
patiently took up the burden of her solitary, 
loveless life, animated only by a purpose to 
do right. The stoical heroism within her 
made her oblivious to every voice but the 
stern voice of duty, and the dregs of the cup 
of wormwood became sweet to her taste be- 
cause she drank for Christ’s sake. 


CHAPTER XV. 


The illustrious king who hails from the 
Levant, whose daily walk extends to the 
dark nakedness of the western isles, is just 
raising his imperial head to look over what is 
said to be one of the most beautiful and at- 
tractive spots in the world, the lake of Geneva 
in Switzerland. There are the Alps, and 
‘'clear, placid Lemon’'; Jura with her shroud 
of purple and gold, and the somber, historic 
castle of Chillon. The spirit of genius seems 
to pervade the air. The names of Byron, 
Rousseau, and Gibbon are blended with these 
scenes, and numerous great events of history 
are inseparably associated with them. As 
the sun’s rays touch the lake, one is reminded 
of the rosy, dimpled face of a child, with clear, 
pellucid eyes and smiling lips. 

From the hotel at Villeneuve, walking 
slowly in the direction of the castle of Chillon, 
comes a gentleman. As he approaches, we 
recognize our friend. Judge Kahree. He 
arrived at this pilgrim’s rest only yesterday. 
At first glance we think he has changed but 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 177 

little, although it has been seven years since 
we last saw him. But closer scrutiny reveals 
a few silver threads among the dark locks, 
a settled look of sadness in the eyes, and 
about the mouth are lines which none but 
sorrow's pencil could have traced. When the 
lips can tell of the heart's sorrow, alleviation 
has begun ; but mute lips and anguished heart 
will create a canker that will eat into the 
vitals. 

The hotel stands facing the water. In 
front of it is a portico. A lady stood leaning 
against one of the pillars, her face turned to- 
ward the water. As the Judge turned to 
retrace his steps, his eye was caught by the 
flutter of a white dress among the green 
vines. Watching her as an indescribable 
stream of splendor from the eastern sky fell 
over her, he said: '‘No Greek dream, how- 
ever extravagant, of the white-armed, ox- 
eyed Hera could surpass yon form of flesh. 

She was tall and stately, with calm, blue 
eyes, dimpled cheeks, and small mouth, which 
wore a perpetual smile. Her crowning 
beauty was her magnificent waving golden 
hair. 

Rose Ruthvon was the petted and only 
child of a college chum of Judge Kahree, 
who was an invalid, and, accompanied by his 
daughter, was traveling for his health. A 
year ago they had met by accident in Wales, 


G-12 


178 


GUTNDINE, 


and had decided to continue their travels 
together. 

For some weeks Mr. Ruthvon had been 
failing. The doctor recommended Villeneuve. 
They had come there for a few weeks rest, 
hoping and expecting him to recuperate. 

As the Judge ascended the steps to the 
portico Rose turned, her eyes drooped and 
a faint wave of color swept over her face. 
This mystic language was one with which he 
was quite familiar, and could read as from 
an open book. The time was when it would 
have given him pleasure, but his flirting days 
were over and his heart was too sore to care 
to renew them; besides he was a Christian 
now, with a conscience, and a heart washed 
in the blood of the Lamb, from which selfish- 
ness and lust had been removed. But his 
tenderest sympathy went out to Rose. His 
heart was permeated with that fellow feeling 
which ‘‘makes us wondrous kind.'’ He could 
do nothing more; he was not to blame for 
this state of affairs, and he could not give 
what he did not possess. His heart was all 
Guyndine's and while he knew he was sepa- 
rated from her forever, he had never thought 
of a divorce. When he took his marriage 
vow, he took it for eternity. 

Years ago. Rose had met Judge Kahree at 
Newport, where, with her mother, she had 
spent a season. Mere child as she was, she 
left her heart with him and from that time 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 179 


she had dreamed of him and him alone. 
Beautiful, accomplished, and sought after, she 
coldly turned from the advances of all and 
was looked upon as somewhat eccentric. 

Mr. Ruthvon had never heard of his 
friend's marriage, and the Judge had allowe^i 
him to remain in ignorance, not thinking of 
harm coming of it. It was beginning to 
dawn upon him, however, that he had made 
a mistake, and he was full of regret for his 
thoughtlessness. In the olden days he had 
watched the fluctuant color, the quickened 
breath, the fluttering sigh, with a fascination 
similar to that of a cat watching a mouse 
which she has tossed and worried beyond the 
possibility of its escape ; but there was no ex- 
ultation now ; only shame and remorse at the 
recollection of the past. 

The Judge lifted his hat and was passing 
on into the hall when Rose said, ‘'Judge, 
papa sent me to find you with the request 
that, as soon as you have breakfasted, you 
will call at his room." 

“Have you been to breakfast," inquired he. 

“No; it is rather early; it is only five min- 
utes past six," said she, looking at her watch. 

“I did not expect to see you out so early 
after yesterday's fatiguing journey," said the 
Judge, “but you look as fresh as a morning- 
glory." 

“Oh, I could not remain in bed with such 
a prospect as this before me," said she, with 


180 


GUYNDINE, 


a sweeping glance at the beautiful landscape. 
‘'I could scarcely wait for daylight/* 

They turned their faces toward the water 
and stood drinking in the fresh breeze, silent- 
ly gazing upon the sparkling wavelets and 
the beauties of the surrounding scenery. At 
ter a long silence he said : 

'Tsn’t it grand and awe-inspiring?’’ 

''Magnificent,” replied she. "I have all the 
morning been thinking of beauitful Byron ; 
poor, unfortunate, wicked, gifted Byron. I 
imagine his shade still haunts the place he 
loved so well.” 

"Yes, the surrounding scenes still bear his 
epitaph which this mighty poet' placed upon 
them, and while there remains a wavelet in 
'clear, placid Lemon,’ his shade will continue 
to haunt it. I, too, have been thinking about 
him and I have been thinking that his wick- 
edness and mine compare well.” . 

Surprised, she turned and looked into his 
face. He looked steadily into her eyes. "It 
is true. Miss Rose; I am not worthy of the 
love and respect of a pure woman; and 
though I stand before God in a justified state, 
I do not deserve and never expect to ask 
any woman to waste her affections on me.’’ 

A flush rose to the roots of her hair, but 
she made no reply. He turned toward the 
castle, and after a few minutes, said: 

"What a grand, melancholy old pile ! quiet 
and peaceful today, but once the scene of 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. ISl 


cruel tyranny and oppression, in which the 
warm blood of many a hero mingled with the 
dust. Ah, what a fearful thing is uncurbed 
human passion ! How relentless and cruel is 
godless ambition which the closest bonds of 
nature are powerless to restrain, trampling 
down love, faith, conscience, and would, if 
possible, scale the Heavens and usurp Jeho- 
vah's throne. Yet the infidel tells us about the 
grandeur of human nature. It is vile, vile, 
except as it has been redeemed by the blood 
of Christ. Past history shows that without 
the touch of the redeeming blood, human 
nature and brute nature are synonymous 
terms." 

“What various motives fired their bosoms! 
What trivial provocatons led them into seas 
of blood !" said she. “And what they called 
bravery we would term recklessness and 
downright foolhardiness." 

“You do not term the provocation which 
Paris gave Manelaus slight, do you?" said 
the Judge, smiling. 

“Perhaps not; still very much depends 
upon how Helen conducted herself behind 
the scenes. I could better judge had I been 
permitted to have a glimpse of her before 
the abduction." 

“Ah! I see you would gauge your judg- 
ment by the amount of flirting she did with 
Paris and you would place the responsibility 


182 GUYNDINE, 

of what followed upon Menelaus instead of 
Paris/’ 

“Not exactly/’ said sue. “Yet if she was 
a flirt — and I have always had a suspicion 
she was — Menelaus was h simpleton, and the 
price paid for her was fearful.” 

“Their ideas of true nobility were very 
crude,” said the Judge. “I am thankful I 
did not live at a time when all questions of 
honor were settled at the point of the sword.” 

“I cannot understand,” said Rose, “how 
a Christian nation can unhesitatingly plunge 
into war to settle its disputes !” 

“A Christian nation cannot. When we are 
a Christian nation in deed and in truth, we 
will settle our disputes by arbitration. We 
have usurped the right to place the name of 
Christ upon our national banner. The foun- 
dation stones of our nation, instead, of being 
cemented with the Christ principle, are ce- 
mented with blood. Our towns and cities 
are built with blood money. Churches all 
over the land are erected with the glutton’s 
money ; monuments, not to Christ, but to ice 
cream, cake, and third-class theatricals ; and 
strange to say, ministers and laymen look 
into each other’s faces with perplexed horror 
and ask: “What is the matter with the 

Church? God seems to have turned his back 
upon us.” 

“How el§e can they get the money to build 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 183 


churches but by having those things T' asked 
Rose. 

'‘The Bible teaches that ten per cent of the 
Christian’s money belongs to God,” said the 
Judge. “If he fails to pay it he is a robber. 
In the church is no place for a robber; if he 
will not pay his honest debt to God he should 
be excommunicated. The reason why the 
church treasury is empty is because the ma- 
jority of its members are defrauding God. 
Many people are trying to beat their way lo 
Heaven, while they sweetly sing the 
words: ‘I care not for riches, for silver 
nor gold.’ No one is too poor to pay God 
the tenth, and he has promised to return it a 
hundred fold.” Glancing down at Rose, the 
Judge saw in her eyes that expression which 
always appealed to his sympathy, and his 
voice had a note of tenderness as he said: 
“This breeze is too strong. Miss Rose. Yon 
should have something about your shoul- 
ders.” 

Her heart quickened at the tone, but she 
did not reply. Breakfast was announced, and 
as they passed into the breakfast room a low 
murmur went the rounds, “Beautiful as a 
dream.” “What a handsome couple!” “Who 
are they?” 

After breakfast the Judge excused himself 
and went to see Mr. Ruthvon, whom he found 
lying on a couch looking much worse. 

“Why, Ruthvon,” said he, extending his 


184 


GUYNDINE, 


hand, ''How is this? You are not looking 
so well. Do you feel worse?"’ 

Mr. Ruthvon took his hand and pressed it 
warmly, motioning him to an easy chair. 
"Draw it up this way, a little nearer. Well, 
Arrel, old friend, my days are numbered. I 
sent for you because I want to have a long 
talk with you while I have strength.” 

"Come now, Ruthvon, this will never do. 
You must not give way to despondent feel- 
ings.” 

"I am not despondent, but I understand 
my condition. Suffering has made me tired 
of life, and I do not care how soon release 
comes, only for poor Rose. I feel myself 
going; I shall not be here many days. I 
have a load on my mind, Arrel, and I cannot 
die easy till I have disposed of it.” 

He stopped and closed his eyes. After a 
few moments he opened them and turned 
them full upon the Judge’s face. "My bur- 
den is Rose, poor little Rose. I cannot die 
and leave her without a protector. She is 
not so young; she is twenty-eight. She un- 
derstands the ways of cultured society per- 
fectly, but she knows nothing whatever of 
the rough side of life. She is innocent and 
unsophisticated in all that is harsh and tax- 
ing, and is not calculated to battle with the 
world. Perhaps we made a mistake in so 
carefully shielding her from contact witli 
these things, but it is too late now to correct 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 185 

mistakes. While she has always been in the 
best society she has lived very exclusive. It 
is her nature. I never knew her to have any 
intimate companion. She has had scores of 
lovers, but strange to say, she seemed to 
care for none of them. Since her mother's 
death she has clung to me and has cared for 
no other, except — well, I may as well say it^ — 
for you, Arrel." 

Again he closed his eyes and lay silent for 
some time. ‘‘I had hoped that you might — ' 
He stopped and cleared his throat. ''That 
you could have loved Rose well enough to 
marry her. Do you think you could, old 
friend?" 

"Ruthvon, I have a living wife. I have 
been married fourteen years." 

Mr. Ruthvon had risen on his elbow. He 
sank back upon the pillow white and almost 
fainting. The Judge stepped to a table and 
poured some cordial into a glass which he 
gave him, and he soon revived. 

"I have had it in my mind several times," 
said the Judge, "to tell you about my mar- 
riage, but the subject is one which is so 
painful, and so overwhelms me with remorse, 
that I have avoided it on that account, I 
did not begin to sow my wild oats quite as 
early, perhaps, as some men, but I sowed 
them all the same; after which I met and 
married the only woman I ever loved. To- 
day, when my hair is beginning to silver, and 


186 


GUYNDINE, 


my heart yearns for love and home, I am a 
wanderer upon the earth, reaping the harvest 
of that sowing, and draining the cup of sor- 
row to its dregs.. You know what my life 
has been — 

''Yes, Arrel, and mine was no better,’’ in- 
terrupted Mr. Ruthvon. 

The Judge resumed: "I added to those 
sins the blacker one of palming myself off 
as a morally pure man on one of the purest 
and sweetest girls that ever drew breath. For 
a few blissful months the farce was a success ; 
but one day she overheard me confess my 
profligacy to a friend. Oh, that horrible 
day!” He stopped, took out his handker- 
chief and wiped the perspiration from his 
forehead and leaned his head back in the 
chair wearily. When he again spoke his 
voice was trembling. "She was too true to 
abandon me, but from that hour she refused 
to be my wife. Of course, her confidence 
was forever gone and I thought her love had 
flown with it, although she was always kind 
and sweet and never reproached me. But 
I learned later that she had loved me all along 
and that her heart had been bleeding with 
mine. For five years we lived under the 
same roof and played a farce for the benefit 
of the world, when I could endure it no 
longer. I had repented in sackcloth and 
ashes, but we had passed the line where re- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE 


1.87 


pentance could avail to restore to me my lost 
treasure/' 

“Would she not forgive you even when 
you had repented and God had forgiven 
you ?" 

“Yes; she forgave me at once but her 
conscience would not permit her to live in 
wedlock under the circumstances. I knew 
she was right, but, Ruthvon — " after a long 
pause — “it is a fearful thing to love as I lov^ed 
her ; it ' is such love that turns brains and 
breaks hearts. I am a strong man physically 
and I have lived through it, but I wonder how 
I did. I would have sold my soul if her pure 
hand had not held me back. I had it in 
my heart to lay my hopes of eternity upon 
the altar of that which Milton says “taints 
the sweet bloom of nature’s fairest forms.” 
But I can say now that I thank God that 
she would not permit it, though she was 
never dearer to me than she is at this mo- 
ment. At one time honor, reason, con- 
science, were all subservient to my wild, pas- 
sionate love for her.” 

“Then,” said Mr. Ruthvon, “ I am to um 
derstand that the separation is final ?” 

“Oh, yes; it is all over between us. I 
never expect to see her face again in this 
world,” said the Judge, with a long sigh. He 
rose and began walking the f^oor nervously, 


188 


GUYNDINE, 


as he always did when he allowed his mind 
to dwell upon the past. 

Mr. Ruthvon closed his eyes and waited 
for several moments till the Judge resumed 
his seat. ''Well, Arrel, you are as good as 
the average man. It is no use for me to have 
nice scruples along these lines after the life 
I have lived. I am going to make you a 
proposition. I know Rose loves you, and 
you know it, too; you are not blind. It is 
for her happiness I am planning. I want 
your promise that you will apply for a di- 
vorce at once and as soon as you have re- 
ijeived it you will marry her. She will make 
you a true wife and as for beauty and ac- 
complishments she has few peers.’’ 

"Rose is beautiful and accomplished 
enough to satisfy the most fastidious taste,” 
said the Judge, "but I cannot do it; such an 
arrangement would be unjust to her. She 
would not marry me if she knew I did not 
love her.” 

"She need not know it,” said Mr. Ruth- 
von. "It is an easy matter to deceive a wo- 
man when she wants to believe a thing. It 
will never hurt her if she doesn’t know it; 
besides, you could not long be closely asso- 
ciated with as sweet and attractive a woman 
as Rose without loving her. It does not be- 
long to human nature, or rather to man’s 
nature at your age, to resist youth and 
beauty. You say yourself that your heart 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. J89 

yearns for love and home a perfectly natu- 
ral feeling. The trouble with you is that 
you have become morbid over this other wo- 
man. If you marry Rose you will naturally 
drift into loving her and forget the other, 
which is the very thing you should try to do. 
Life is too short for a man to sit down 
and nurse remorse. If you marry Rose, in 
two years you will be as madly in love with 
her as you ever were with the other one. 
The past is gone ; let it go ; you cannot 
change it. The future is yours; make the 
best of it. Arrel, my heart is set on this 
and I cannot give it up. Remember, I once 
at the risk of my own life, saved you from 
drowning. You now have it in your power to 
lift a load from my dying heart. Will you 
refuse to do it 

“Ruthvon,’’ said the Judge, ''are you pre- 
pared to die? Have you made any prepara- 
tion for a home for your immortal soul?'' 

"Hush ! do not bother me about my soul 
till this other matter is settled. I can think 
of nothing else now. Arrel, answer me, will 
you let me die in peace, or will you refuse 
to grant the dying request of your bovhood's 
friend?" 

There was a long silence, in which the 
voice of time on the mantle proclaimed the 
escaping seconds in strong accents and the 
tick, tick, tick, seemed to grow louder each 
second. The Judge was wrapped in medita- 


190 


GUYNDINE, 


tion. Mr. Ruthvon watched him narrowly, 
anxiously glancing now and then at the clock. 
The Judge arose and again began the old ner- 
vous walk, back and forth, back and forth. 
He stopped before the window, his eyes 
wandered to the grand old pile in the dist- 
ance, but he saw it not. After what seemed 
to Mr. Ruthvon an age, he returned to his 
seat. “Ruthvon, it is hard to refuse an old 
and valued friend a dying request after — as 
you say — he has saved your life and you feel 
you owe him a debt of gratitude such as CdU 
scarcely be repaid. I cannot refuse your re- 
quest, yet I tremble at the thought of grant- 
ing it. I will grant it, however, on condi- 
tions.'' 

“What are the conditions?" 

“That I be permitted to tell Miss Rose 
the whole story." 

“Oh, that will never do, never !" said Mr. 
Ruthvon. “Rose would not refuse to grant 
my dying request even if she knew you did 
not love her, but it would make such a deep 
wound that I cannot permit it." 

“Very well, then," said the Judge, decid- 
edly, “I will have nothing more to do with 
it. I have practiced my last deception." 

He rose and started toward the door. 

“Sit down ! Sit down !" cried Mr. Ruth- 
von, excitedly, looking so weak and nervous 
that the Judge again administered the cordial. 
For a long time he lay with closed eyes. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


At length he reached up and rung the bell. 
A servant answered. ''Send Miss Ruthvon 
to me, will you?'' 

In a few moments Rose swept into the 
room, bringing with her an air of freshness 
and perfume. "How well the name suits her," 
thought the Judge, as his eyes swept her 
form from the crown of her golden head to 
the perfect feet. "She is not of that flaming 
variety, which suggests that her glory might 
have been drawn from the blood of some 
Caesar; but dainty, faint-hued, and fragrant 
as some rare tropical exotic." There was 
not a flaw; the small perfectly shaped head 
was poised upon a neck of snowy whiteness ; 
her forehead was white and smooth as mar- 
ble ; between the parted ruby lips was a 
glimpse of pearly teeth. "The carmine of 
sunset seemed to linger upon her cheek, and 
the dew of the morning upon her lips." As 
she passed him and the dainty white skirts 
brushed his ankles, he felt the least per- 
ceptible quickening of his pulses. "Many a 
man has plead in vain for the love of this 
exquisite creature," thought the Judge, "and 
she loves me. She has poured the rich 
treasures of her heart at my feet and I may 
gather them up if I will. I may feel those 
pretty arms encircle my neck, the pressure 
of those soft lips upon my own; may rest 
my head upon that perfect bust and feel the 
heart-throbs all my own if I but will. Shall 


192 


GUYNDINE, 


I ? Conscience says 'no/ and I dare not ; 
and, Guyndine, for your sweet sake and the 
sake of your Christ, my Christ, I will not. 
Lord, help me to be true/’ 

"Oh, papa !” said Rose, keeling beside her 
father and placing a hand on his forehead. 
"You look so very ill today, you frighten 
me.” 

"My daughter,” said he, putting an arm 
about her waist, "I am very ill, and you must 
begin to think of what you will do when I 
am gone.” 

"Oh, papa, hush ! hush ! I cannot endure 
it/’ 

She hid her face in his bosom and for 
some time all was silent except as the silence 
was broken by her sobs. Mr. Ruthvon lay 
with closed eyes, tenderly stroking her hair, 
while now and then a tear stole down his 
face and fell upon the pillows. Judge Kahree’s 
great, tender heart was swelling with sympa- 
thy as he sat watching this sad picture. 

After a time Mr. Ruthvon said: "Rose, 
dear, I sent for you to tell you that I must 
soon leave you, and I wish to arrange for 
your future. I cannot die satisfied till I have 
done this.” 

His answer was a fresh burst of sobs. 
"Oh, papa, I cannot live without you ; do not 
die and leave me, I beg of you.” 

Again there was nothing heard for awhile 
but her low, pitiful sobs. The tears chased 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 193 

each other rapidly down Mr. Ruthvon’s face, 
and his arm pressed her waist a little closer. 
The Judge again drew his handkerchief from 
his pocket ; this time it was his eyes he wiped 
instead of his forehead. 

After waiting some time, Mr. Ruthvon 
said: '‘Now, dear, calm yourself and listen 
while Judge Kahree tells you the story of 
his life, after which I have a request to make 
which if you refuse to grant you will break 
my heart. 

"Papa,’’ said Rose, "I grant your request 
even before I know what it is. You would 
not ask me to do anything wrong, and I 
promise you that whatever it is, it shall be 
as you wish.” 

"Go on, Arrel,” said Mr. Ruthvon. 

The Judge began with his boyhood days, 
and, without reservation, related all down to 
the present time. His voice was low and 
deep, and it had a tone of pathos that went 
straight to her heart. At times she was 
shocked at his sins and again her heart bled 
for his sorrows. He could only see the side 
of her face as it was covered with her hands 
and rested on her father’s bosom; but when 
he spoke of Guyndine and his marriage he 
saw the color come and go. When he said 
that Guyndine was the only woman he had 
ever loved, a little shiver passed over her 
frame and the color faded from her face and 
neck, leaving it white as marble. As he fin- 


G— 13 


194 


GUYNDINE, 


ished his story he leaned forward and placed 
his hand on her bowed head. “Miss Rose, 
you see by my confession that I am unworthy 
of the love of any pure woman; but I have 
this day promised your father that, with your 
consent, I will take his place as your pro- 
tector. For me to do this without a marriage 
ceremony would be to bring reproach upon 
us both. I cannot offer you a husband’s love. 
I gave that to one woman. If death should 
sever the tie, and my love would be accept- 
able to you, I would strive with all my 
strength to love you as I have loved her. 
But I can give you a husband’s care and pro- 
tection and a brother's love, but the marriage 
relation in its fullest sense would not, under 
such circumstances, be as God intended. It 
would be impure. The only way that I can 
support you and keep you with me is to take 
refuge under a marriage ceremony. We can 
live as pure lives as if we were brother and 
sister, and there will be neither reproach nor 
sin connected with it. Miss Rose, will you 
marry me’?” 

What a strange offer of marriage ! She 
recalled the scores of offers she had listened 
to in which were the tenderest protestations 
of love, which had fallen upon her heart like 
water upon a stone. And this offer was from 
the man she loved. “Oh, papa ! Spare me, 
spare me, I pray you.” She raised her head 
and looked into her father’s eyes. “Do not 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 195 


insist upon this marriage. How can I marry 
him knowing that he does not love me, and 
that I am only a burden to him ! Let me 
enter some home as a household drudge, 
but spare me this horrible fate. Oh, spare 
me, papa, I beg.’' 

“Rose, dear,” said her father, “there is no 
other way; you have already promised You 
will not now refuse to grant your dying 
father’s request.” 

“Miss Rose,” said the Judge. “You will 
not be a burden to me. I need the sympathy 
and companionship of just such a sweet, pure 
sister as you will be to me. I have wealth, 
more than I shall ever care to spend upon 
myself ; let me have a sister upon which to 
lavish it. I never had a sister. You will 
not refuse me this as it will be a real pleas- 
ure.” 

“Oh, papa, spare me ! Spare me !” she 
said, again lifting her head and looking plead- 
ingly into his face. 

“Rose,” said he, “you do not know what 
you are doing.” 

“Oh, I cannot force myself upon a man 
for the sake of protection and support.” 

“My beautiful queen of flowers,” said the 
father, “you are very unsophisticated or you 
would know that the man sitting there can no 
more resist you than he can resist the air he 
breathes. Marry him, child, and win his 


196 


GUYNDINE, 


love. It will not be two years till he will 
be madly in love with you.’’ 

Her face grew scarlet, and she broke into 
fresh sobs. ''Oh, I am humiliated into the 
very dust.” 

The Judge’s fine, sympathetic nature was 
all alive to her trying position. How he 
pitied her ; he longed to take her in his arms 
and wipe the tears from her eyes and try to 
comfort her. "Rose,” said he, "I plead with 
you to marry me for my own sake; let that 
be the only consideration. There are few 
pleasures in my life now. I really need you, 
and I will do all in my power to make you 
happy.” 

"Your promise, quick ! My time is short,” 
gasped Mr. Ruthvon. She raised her head 
and looked into his face. It was ghastly. 
"Yes, papa, I will; I will.” 

He smiled and passed into eternity, un- 
prepared ; thinking more of the trivial affairs 
of this life than of how he should appear 
before the Judge of the quick and the dead. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


One week later Judge Kaliree left Ville- 
neuve to return to America. Rose accom- 
panied him as far as Bologna, where he se- 
cured for her a quiet boarding house, '‘My 
little sister must be brave and try to do with- 
out me until such a time as the marriage 
ceremony can be performed, which will be 
within a year. You will be lonely, I know, 
but there is no other way. I shall be lonely, 
too, and shall look forward to the time when 
we can renew companionship.'' 

He bade her farewell, and she stood on the 
pier gazing with mournful eyes upon the ship 
that bore him away till it faded into a speck 
and then disappeared. Then all her courage 
forsook her and a sense of her utter loneli- 
ness and friendlessness swept over her. She 
sank upon the sand in a little heap and was 
sobbing out her grief when a voice close 
beside her said: 

'T see, my child, that you are beginning to 
learn life's lesson. It seems sad when one 
so young and fair is made to bow at sorrow's 


198 


GUYNDINE, 


shrine/’ Looking up, Rose saw an elderly 
man, dressed in the garb of a priest. 

''Oh, father !” she wailed. "I am so very 
desolate. How can I endure it? If I could 
but die and get away from it ! I see no other 
hope.” 

"My child, human life is a gloomy pil- 
grimage to the shrine eternal. The Church 
is a blessed retreat, where you can find that 
peace which the — ” 

"Hush ! Do not talk to me about the 
Church,” she interrupted. "I will not hear 
it.” 

"Listen, O my daughter, I bring you an 
injunction from the Most High. The human 
heart should be made a solemn sacrifice to 
Heaven. You are called upon to dedicate 
yourself” — he pointed to a large, gray build- 
ing in the distance — "if you would become 
an ideal woman ; if you would take part in 
the great struggle of the human to make 
itself divine; if you would form a direct per- 
sonal alliance with that which is most exalt- 
ed; bury behind the sacred walls of yon 
cloister the ashes of your heart. I leave the 
message with you and the responsibility, 
which, if you evade, it will be at your peril. I 
assure you, your obligations are commen- 
surate with the exalted range of your oppor- 
tunities.” 

She had risen and stood before him, look- 
ing like a Venus. Her sapphire eyes blazed 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE 


199 


indignantly, and there was a round, red spot 
on either cheek. 

‘'You make me feel as if I were going into 
a hideous nightmare. What do I care for 
the convent, the Church, or Heaven itself. 
I know what a fraud monasticism is. I had 
a friend who died in just such a den as that, 
died of a broken heart, because that, too late, 
she learned that behind those walls she was 
denied the peace which she had expected to 
find there.'’ She pointed across the water. 
"Every pulse of the engine of yonder ship 
is bearing further and further from me the 
only being on earth I have to love. I have 
asked or cared for nothing but his love. God 
has refused me that ; and now you tell me to 
cover, as in a funeral urn, the ashes of my 
heart and offer it as a sacrifice to rleaven. 
I will not do it. I will not bow to Heaven. 
I do not love God. I love but one, and he 
sails yonder." 

"Girl! girl! What are you saying? Take 
that back before it is too late. Take it back, 
I tell you. Do not leave this spot with such 
fearful words standing in eternity against 
you." 

He placed his hand on her arm, but she 
flung it off. "I will not take it bacb." 

He looked at her in amazement. "Girl, 
you are insane." 

"I am sane enough to keep out of the 
Convent of the Stricken Heart," said she, 


200 


GUYNDINE. 


with a light laugh, ''and from henceforth I 
shall endeavor to be sane enough to keep my 
lips closed and let my heart break in silence.” 

It was not like Rose to talk thus to anyone, 
much less to a senior and a minister; and 
had the Judge heard her, he could not have 
believed this to be the calm, quiet, well-bred 
little lady he had traveled with for a year. 

The high tension to which her usually 
calm nerves had been strung for the past 
week had brought her to the verge of hyste- 
ria, and she felt that to continue this colloquy 
another moment would be to drive her mad. 
"I beg pardon,” said she, as she turned and 
hurried from the spot. 

The priest stood looking after her. "As 
fair as Belial and as mad as a March hare,” 
mused he. "Very sad, very sad.” 

The ship Argo, manned by its Thessalian 
heroes, as it sailed away in the Euxine in 
search of the golden fleece, carried no greater 
hero than Arrel Kahree, once a libertine, 
now washed in the crimson flood, going forth 
upon what he believes to be his errand of duty 
and self-sacrifice. If he is making a mistake, 
it is an error of judgment and not of the 
heart. It is unsafe for a Christian to follow 
the advice of the unregenerate in the smallest 
affairs of life, and to take their advice in a 
step of such vital importance as the one he is 
now taking, is hazardous in the extreme. 


CHAPTER XVIL 


“Earth’s crammed with heaven 

And every common bush afire with God, 

But only he who sees takes off his shoes ; 
The rest sit ’round and pluck blackberries. ’ ’ 

Classic features and the most exquisite 
art that human thought has yet conceived to 
produce facial beauty, cannot compare with 
the delicate touch from the mystic hand 
of that transformer of the human coun- 
tenance, Christly spirituality. Under the 
touch of this artist the coarsest and 
most repulsive features are chiseled 
down, softened and illuminated till 
they become lovely to behold. Every in- 
intelligent and close observer has seen this 
for himself and knows it to be a fact. One 
has said : ‘‘Facts are the finger prints of God.’’ 
This fact without any other evidence is proof 
conclusive that Christ is divine. This is the 
only spirit that will transform the face of a 
demon into the face of an angel and illumi- 
nate it with a spark of celestial light; the 
only spirit that will elevate man to a state 
where he is a fit companion for God. Com- 


202 


GUYNDINE, 


pare this pure and holy light with that which 
shines in the face of the spiritualistic medium 
and the infidel. Take a devout Christian and 
an agnostic and place them side by side ; se- 
lect twelve intelligent men who have never 
seen either, take them one at a time and let 
them guess which is the Christian. Not one 
of the twelve will make a mistake. Why? 
Because the pure face of the one reflects the 
Christ life; the cold, hard expression of the 
other plainly says: '‘Crucify Him.’^ It is a 
sad comment that this spirit illuminates the 
faces of only a few professing Christians, but 
there are enough to establish the fact. “This 
is one of our pillar fires, seen as we go.’’ 

Guyndine had but little time, and she 
had little disposition to brood over her sor- 
rows. Her daily bread now depended on her 
own exertions. 

Judge Kahree left America without having 
heard of what had transpired at Spencer 
Place, and supposed that Guyndine was safely 
sheltered there. He would gladly have made 
a settlement of a comfortable income upon 
her, but he knew that she would not accept 
it. 

It was Sunday morning, the twenty-second 
day of June, the eighth anniversary of Willie 
Dobson’s healing and Guyndine’s conver- 
sion. 

“Ah,” soliloquized she, “the religion of 
Christ is fitly named the ‘pearl of great price.’ 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCTFNCE. 


203 


How could I have endured all this suffering 
without it. I fear I should have committed 
suicide. It enables one after every earthly 
prop has been removed to rejoice with a joy 
that is unspeakable. What a great change 
have eight years wrought in my life ! But 
1 feel that God’s hand is leading and it is all 
right, and the reward is sure when one pa- 
tiently suffers for the sake of right. Harr}’ 
and Willie are together today. Poor Harry 
is where he can see the desolate old home, 
but he also is happy in the promise, 'All 
things work together for good to them 
that love God.’ This is their fast day and I 
will fast with them.” Kneeling, she prayed 
that Willie and Harry might be anointed 
afresh for their life work. She thanked God 

for the beautiful church at A , built by 

Willie Dobson’s thank offering, which had 
received the sign of God’s approbation in the 
healing of many and conversion of hundreds. 
As her mind reverted to the traveler in for- 
eign lands, her head sank lower and there 
was a sob in her voice as she begged that 
God would follow him with his choicest 
blessings, make and keep him pure. 

She rose and descended to breakfast. 
John hastened to meet her with his pro- 
foundest "bend-a-ma-lah.” 

'T wish nothing this morning, John, but 
a cup of chocolate and a cracker.” 

With another grand flourish John started 


204 


GUYNDINE, 


to the kitchen. As he passed Lena in the 
back hall, she said: ''John, yo' knows what 
yo' ’minds me ob when yo’ makes yo’ ole 
bend-a-ma-lah ?” 

"No,” said John. "What does I mind yo’ 
ob?” He expected her to say: "Ob dat 
French gen’man what boa’d heah and teach 
dancin’.” 

"Yo’ looks jes’ like ol’ fishwo’m squirmin' 
roun’ on a hook. Yo’ suah nuff does.” 

"I knows what yo’ aftah, ole Lena. Yo’ 
jes’ tryin’ to get me to kiss yo’.” 

John looked very much crestfallen. 

"He-he-he!” giggled Lena, "its ketchin' 
fo’ bangin’.” 

She started to run; John made a dive at 
her, catching her by the sleeve, but the old 
sleeve tore out, leaving a yellow arm dang- 
ling behind the rags ; she dodged into the 
kitchen running plump against old Aunt 
Cinda, who was carefully crossing the floor 
with a crock almost level full of milk. Down 
went Aunt Cinda, milk, crock and all, with 
a splash, a crash and a yell like the last shriek 
of a lost soul. 

John made haste to get his cup of chocolate 
and get out before Aunt Cinda got the milk 
out of her eyes, but her tongue was loose, and 
if it had been as dangerous as it sounded, 
his mortal career would have ended then and 
there. "If I evah lives to git up off dis 
floah I’s gwine to kill yo’ two niggahs, 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSriEiNCE. 205 


shuah's my name’s Cinderella. Look nt me, 
Lena; look at yo’ mammy!” Slowly she 
arose, while little streams of milk trickled 
down her nose, forehead, chin and finger 
tips. 

'‘Did it hurt yo’ much, mammy?” asked 
Lena, beginning to grin. 

"Shut up,” yelled Aunt Cinda, "yo’ nasty 
little blubber-mouth fool I Go git a bucket 
an’ mop and clean up dat slop fo’ I makes 
soap grease of yo’ hide. An’ if dat no count, 
good fo’ nothing yallah imp, John, cross 
my path any mo’ today I’se gwine to seal’ 
him, I shuah will. I’se tired dis niggah 
foolery I can’t stan’ it no mo’, and I’se not 
gwine to try.” 

In less than three minutes after John left 
the dining room he was back with his cup of 
chocolate, bowing and smiling as if his death 
warrant was not at that very moment being 
read. Guyndine had no idea of the threat- 
ened tragedy in the kitchen. But John was 
in a greater dilemma than his appearance 
indicated, and in the midst of his smiles and 
bows, his mind was busy trying to formulate 
a plan. Sunday morning was the only time 
he was ever in a hurry. He liked to get 
through with his work early and "fix hisse’f 
up,” and promenade in the front yard as the 
people were returning from church. He 
usually had something new to exhibit ; this 
morning it was a gorgeous red necktie. Even 


206 


GUYNDINE, 


if he had not had the tie it was an af¥liction 
to miss a chance to exhibit his wonderful 
''bend-a-ma-lah/' Somebody was sure to 
glance his way and he never lost an oppor- 
tunity. He had overheard Lena say, 
shuah do know how to make a wa’m bow,” 
and he imagined himself the subject of com- 
plimentary comment on all sides. John’s 
philosophic mind at once realized the impend- 
ing danger of a visit to the kitchen while 
Aunt Cinda continued in her present mood. 
She weighed two hundred and was a virago 
when her temper was up and Mrs. Banks out 
of sight. Mrs. Banks had raised John and 
was very partial to him, which aroused Aunt 
Cinda’s hatred. He was honest as far as the 
circumstances in the case admitted, and Mrs. 
Banks could depend on him for almost every- 
thing but work. As Mrs. Kahree was the 
last one to breakfast and no longer needed 
his services, he skipped up to Mrs Banks’ 
room and gently tapped at the door. ^'Miss 
Sally.” 

‘AVell, John, what is it?” 

''Aunt Cinda done washed her ole black 
face in a crock ob milk.” John looked very 
serious. 

"Why, John!” 

"Yes’m, she suah did; I done ketched her.” 

The door flew open and out came Mrs, 
Banks. She knew Aunt Cinda’s weakness, 
and although there was not a pot in the 


A ^A'OMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 207 


kitchen as black and shiny as her face, if 
she were told that a milk bath would improve 
her complexion she would try the experi- 
ment. John now had a free passport to the 
kitchen and with a broad grin he followed 
Mrs. Danks. They found Aunt Cinda stand- 
ing in the center of the room, the picture 
of Ethiopian fury, with nothing on but a 
short red skirt and a short-sleeved under- 
waist, and with a towel trying to wipe the 
milk from her wool. Lena, about to ex- 
plode, but not daring to let Aunt Cinda see 
her laugh, was down on her knees picking 
up the broken pieces of crock. 

''Now, Miss Sally,'' said John. "Jes' see 
fo' yo'se'f." 

There was murder in Aunt Cinda's eyes 
as she turned on him. 

"Miss Sally, dat coon knock me down an' 
trow a whole crock of milk in my face." 

"Did I, Lena?" 

"No ; mammy know you nebah ; I run 
"gainst her myse'f. I nebah meant to, an' 
she fall down and spill de milk in her own 
face. John nebah touch her." 

"I was 'bliged to go aftah you. Miss Sally," 
explained John, "cause Aunt Cinda wouldn't 
let me come in de kitchen to do my wo'k. 
I'se not 'fraid of Aunt Cinda, but I'se mighty 
skeered of dat hot watah she carry." 

"You ought to hab some ob it right now," 
yelled Aunt Cinda. "Yo' ain' got no mo' 


208 


GUYNDINE, 


mannahs dan a hog, standin’ lieah gazin’ at 
a lady when she dressin’. I hates a yallah 
niggah anyhow. If I mus’ ’sociate wid 
niggahs, give me a gen’leman African what 
got some brains an’ hab some reason. I 
don’t set myse’f up fo’ no gran’ precep’ fo' 
nobody, but. Miss Sally, yo’ can’ larn dem 
bloody yallah coons nothin’ ; it no use tryin’.” 

''Cinda,” said Mrs. Banks, ''you are un- 
reasonable to get so angry over an accident. 
Now I wish to hear no more about this : 
It is time you were all at your morning 
work.” Mrs. Banks withdrew. 

There was an ominous scowl on Aunt 
Cinda’s face which made John feel uncom- 
fortable, and he began to plan how to get 
her in a good humor. "Aunt Cinda, if yo’ 
knows how good lookin’ yo’ is in dat red 
skirt and white wais, wid yo’ putty fat arms, 
an’ bare ankles, yo’ would’nt nebah put on yo’ 
dress no mo’. She look jes’ like show pic- 
tuah, don’ she, Lena?” 

"Yes,” said Lena, with a grin. "If mammv 
would dance she would be shuah ’nutf 
show.” 

"Oh, git away from heah,” said Aunt Cinda. 

John glanced at her face. The muscles 
about the mouth were beginning to relax. 

'Lena, I wishes yo’ took mo’ aftah yo’ 
mammy; jes’ look at yo’ little ole yallah 
skinny arms. I don’ know what make me 
like you so good, ’cause I think de fat, black 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSClfl^NCE. 109 

gals heap the purties’. If I jus’ been roun’ 
when yo’ was a gal, Aunt Cinda, oh golly! 
Lena, if yo’ don’ drink mo’ milk I’se gwine 
to trade yo’ oil.” 

''Dah’s some right down dar she bettah 
lick up,” said Aunt Cinda, with a smile. 

The cloud is past and John’s troubles are 
over for this time. With a wink at Lena, 
who understood, and answered with a giggle, 
he drew a long breath of relief and went to 
his morning work. 

After having restored peace and quiet lo 
the kitchen, Mrs. Banks and Guyndine 
wended their way to an unpretentious little 
chapel a block distant. Guyndine was in a 
devotional frame of mind and took her seat 
without glancing about her. The man in the 
pulpit was one whose life and doctrines were 
alike pure, and she knew that here a feast 
awaited her. Nor was she disappointed, and 
she was so absorbed in the inspiration of the 
'hour that she was oblivious to all else. 

“He that negotiates between God and man, 

As God’s ambassador, the grand concerns 

Of judgment and of mercy should beware 

Of lightness in his speech. ’Tis pitiful 

To court a grin when you should woo a soul.” 

Guyndine felt that she had been refreshed 
by the service and that with renewed energy 
she could take up life's burden and plod on. 
As she turned to leave the seat she met the 
gaze of a pair of searching dark eyes. Where 


G-14 


210 


GUYNDINE, 


had she seen those classic features and pen- 
etrating eyes? They seemed to recall some 
sad, half-forgotten dream, or in some way 
to have been connected with the most deso- 
late period of her life. She was quite sure 
that at some time she had stood face to face 
with this man but all efforts to recall the 
time and place were futile. 

The Hon. Edgar Grannell had started for 
a stroll this beautiful Sabbath morning and 
had continued to stroll till he was two miles 
from home. Passing this chapel as the peo- 
ple were congregating he concluded to go in 
and rest. As the usher was seating him, a 
lady passed into the pew opposite. His heart 
gave a leap. There was the facti which had 
haunted him for months despite the fact that 
he had poured rivers of contempt upon him- 
self and called himself hard names, such as 
‘'imbecile'' and "idiot." Throughout the ser- 
vice, he, too, felt that he was being fed and 
refreshed, but that which was "manna" lo 
Guyndine's soul was tasteless to him. His 
thoughts were along another line and pro- 
duced a dreamy, delicious sort of repose, 
similar, perhaps, to that produced by eating 
the lotus leaf ; and when he arose to hear the 
benediction, he felt as if he had been aroused 
from a delightful dream. He passed out of 
the church directly behind her and walked be- 
hind her till she entered the gate of the 
little boarding house. One week later he 


A OMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 2l i 

called there and engaged board. He re- 
mained a month, but not a glimpse did he 
have of the one he sought. As a last resort 
he enquired of the landlady, and was told 
that she had no knowledge of any such per 
son, that no lady answering to his description 
had ever boarded in her house. 

“I am reminded of Orpheus,’’ soliloquized 
he, as he left the place, “when he came up out 
of the long, dark passage, followed by Eury- 
dice, when just as they reached the upper 
air she was drawn back and the gate was 
closed between them. No wonder the poor 
fellow sang songs of woe, but I will proht 
by his fate and keep my woe to myself. 
Three thousand years have made little change 
in human nature and the bacchanals of the 
nineteenth century are as relentless as they 
were when they tore Orpheus limb from 
limb. Verily, it is wiser to laugh with this 
abominable old world than to weep in its 
sight.” 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


Years have sped away and not another 
glimpse of the one he sought has the Hon. 
Edgar Grannell had. He has long since 
given up the search, and smiles when he re- 
members what he is pleased to term his ''old 
time idiopathy. A fellow will grow morbid 
now and then in spite of himself.’’ 

On a bright autumn morning, just as 
Helois was passing through Aurora’s gate 
with his golden car and its glorious white 
horses, a train steamed into the city of St. 
Louis and a gentleman of distinguished ap- 
pearance stepped from it. The Hon. Edgar 
Grannell is returning from Havana, where he 
has been for nearly three years. With a 
searching glance he looked about him and his 
eyes encountered a familiar form. He 
stepped forward with outstretched hand and 
his face lit up with a glad smile. An old 
white headed African stood a few feet away, 
a very tall and somewhat battered silk hat 
in one hand, and a yeilow silk bandana, with 
which he was wiping the tears of joy that 


A -WOMAN WITH A CONSCCENCI^:, 


213 


Stole down the furrowed old face, in the 
other. 

“Hello, Uncle Tom. It seems good to see 
you again.'' He clasped the sable hand 
w armly. “How are ^all at home ?” 

“Dey's all well, thankee, sir, thankee, sir, 
but. Mister Edgar, I can't hardly speak to 
you; I'se so busy thanking de Lawd for 
bringin' yo' home. I never 'spec to see yo' 
no mo'. An' Rich done cried so much when 
#fie heah yo' was sick dat she done wore 
troughs clean down from her eyes to de 
bottom of her chin." 

“Poor old mammy," said he, entering the 
carriage. Uncle Tom closed the door, and 
climbing upon the driver's seat, cracked his 
whip and away they sped to the Grannell 
mansion. Arriving there the driveway gate 
flew open as by magic and with a grand 
flourish Uncle Tom brought the carriage up 
before the broad piazza. 

As Mr. Grannell stepped from the carriage 
and ascended the broad, stone steps, the hail 
door was flung open and out sprang a slender 
girl of fifteen, with purple eyes and black 
waving hair. Her sweet, refined face was all 
aglow with pleasure but as she threw herselt 
into his outstretched arms, she sobbed: “Oh, 
Uncle Edgar!" and as he held her to his 
breast her delicate frame was convulsed with 
sobs. “My poor little Anna," said he, as a tear 
stole down his face and fell among her dark 


214 


GUYNDINE, 


locks. '‘It is hard, dear, I know, but you 
must be brave and try to bear it.'’ 

Three months ago, Anna’s mother was car- 
ried from this beautiful home and placed be- 
neath the sod. The poor child was almost 
crushed by this great sorrow. She now had 
neither father, mother, sister nor brother; 
and but for this kind, loving uncle, would be 
desolate indeed. 

He took his handkerchief and wiped the 
tears from her face, and smoothed the dark 
hair from her fair brow. Putting his arm 
about her, he led her into the hall and up the 
broad stairway. Before they had reached the 
top a plaintive voice called out from below: 
"Mister Edgar, has yo’ done fohgot all about 
po’ ole Rich?” 

"No, indeed,” replied he, as he turned and 
retraced his steps. "I could never forget 
my old black mammy. And how I missed 
her when I was sick.” He patted her fat 
shoulder. 

"Did yo’, honey, sho’ nuff? Honey, isn’t 
I nebah gwine to git to kiss my man-child 
no mo’?” He bent his handsome head and 
the sable lips touched his forehead and cheek. 
This may seem strange to those who know 
nothing of the customs of slave times and of 
the real* affection that existed between master 
and servant. Uncle Tom and Aunt Rich 
were born in the Grannell family. They had 
been the property of Edgar’s father and Aunt 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 21i 


Rich was Edgar's nurse. Since the emanci- 
pation of the slaves they chose to remain with 
their “own white folks," as they termed them, 
“an' they is shuah gwine to die at home." 

Six months before Mr. Grannell sailed for 
Havana, his only brother died, leaving a wife 
and daughter in straitened circumstances. 
Edgar at once purchased this handsome 
home and placed them in it, surrounding 
them with every luxury. But elegant sur- 
roundings could not avail to keep pent within 
its house of clay the tired spirit and spread- 
ing its glad wings the soul of Mrs. Grannell 
flew away in search of fairer climes. 

As Mr. Grannell, an hour later, descended 
to breakfast, Anna met him in the hall. She 
slipped her arm through his. “Uncle, you 
remember I wrote you about a lady of whom 
1 was taking French and music lessons, who 
was with mamma when she died and whom 
she requested to remain with me till your 
return ?" 

“Yes." 

“Well, she is still here. You will meet 
her at breakfast, and she is just elegant; I 
know you will think so, for mamma thought 
so. She is not common ; she is a refined 
lady." 

“What is her name?" 

“Mrs. Kahree." 

“Miss Kahree?" 

“No, not Miss ; she is a widow." 


216 


GUYNDINE, 


The thick Axminster carpet gave back no 
sound as they walked down the hall and en- 
tered the dining room. Suddenly he stopped 
as if he had been shot. There by the open 
casement, the morning breeze stirring the 
pretty white cashmere wrapper, and the au- 
tumn sun pouring a tide of golden splendor 
over the fair form, converting the bright hair 
into glistening metallic threads, and making 
the jewels flash and sparkle in the white comb 
that glittered among its folds, stood his lost 
Eurydice. The side of her face was turned 
to them. She was intently watching a little 
boy and girl playing with a football in the 
adjoining grounds. In a low voice she said: 
‘‘The dear children ! If I could but forget.’' 

“Mrs. Kahree," said Anna. Guyndine 
turned, and as her eyes rested upon Edgar 
Grannell's face a puzzled look crept into 
them. “Permit me to present my dear uncle 
Edgar. My friend and teacher, Mrs. 
Kahree." 

Stepping forward, Mr. Grannell bowed iow 
and extended his hand. “You have placed me 
under deep obligations to you, Mrs. Kahree, 
in having extended to Anna your protection 
and sympathy in her bereaved and lonely con- 
dition. I sincerely thank you, both for my- 
self and in behalf of those who have passed 
beyond the power to utter their thanks.” 

Bowing slightly, she replied: “If I have 
been of service to you or yours, the knowl- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 217 


edge that I have helped to console and com- 
fort this dear child, repays me doubly for 
any exertion or sacrifice I may have made; 
and all I ask is that you will feel yourself 
under no obligation and never refer to it 
again.'' 

The servants placed the breakfast on the 
table and Guyndine took her accustomed 
seat behind the coffee urn. The Hon. Edgar 
Grannell sat opposite. He smiled to himself 
as he thought, “Now if the gods would bring 
some ambrosia that I might eat and feed her, 
my troubles would be over. I was never 
ready for it till this moment." 

Guyndine sat a moment, hesitating, then 
opened a small Bible and began to read the 
twelfth chapter of Ecclesiastes. He at once 
forgot the ambrosia; the exijuisite poetry of 
the chapter, together with the expression and 
musical intonation of the low voice, held him 
spellbound. “Or ever the silver cord be 
loosened, or the golden bowl be broken, or 
the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall 
the dust return to the earth as it was, and the 
spirit shall return unto God who gave it." Per- 
haps it was the thought of the recent visit of 
the death angel to his home, the vacant place 
at his table, the sad face of the bereaved 
orphan opposite him that helped to impress 
Mr. Grannell with such profound solemnity. 
As she read the two last verses, he sat in deep 
meditation. “Let us hear the conclusion of 


218 


GUYNDINE, 


the whole matter. Fear God and keep his 
commandments ; for this is the whole duty 
of man. For God shall bring every work 
into judgment with every secret thing, wheth- 
er it be good or whether it be evil.’’ 

As she finished, Guyndine glanced at 
Anna. She sat with her head bowed and her 
hands crossed waiting for the usual prayer. 
Guyndine’s face flushed slightly as she said: 
‘^Mr. Grannell, excuse me, sir, but will you 
return thanks.” 

A thunderbolt from a clear sky would have 
been no surprise at all compared with this. 
He straightened up, cleared his throat, 
changed color, and thought, ''What in Heav- 
en’s name am I to do ? I am ashamed to re- 
fuse, but what shall I say?” This man who, 
with his o’ermastering strength of mind, his 
classic style of eloquence and undaunted eye, 
has swayed the mightiest ones of earth ; who 
in the political debate is ever ready with the 
tart reply, the logic and the wit; who can 
speak words as soft as feathery flakes of 
snow, sweet as siren’s tongue, now sits con- 
fused and actually trembling before this pure 
woman whose only aim is duty. Her first 
impulse that morning was to omit the ser- 
vice, feeling that since the master of the 
house had come it was no longer her duty : 
but her second thought was, "Let God be first 
and all.” 

Edgar Grannell had never heard his own 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 219 


voice in prayer except long ago as he re- 
peated “Now I lay me down to sleep,*’ 
which his mother had taught him in his baby- 
hood. In an instant his mind took in the 
fact, and he was filled with a sense of shame. 
The involuted page of his life began to un- 
fold itself before his eyes. He saw first a 
baby, surrounded and sheltered by the love 
and care of the best of parents; then a boy, 
with all the advantages a boy could ask to 
fit him for a life of usefulness ; and now he 
sees a man, gifted with a master mind, blessed 
with health and all his faculties, the possessor 
of a palatial home, surrounded with friends 
and luxury, year after year accepting all this 
as a matter of course, making no return what- 
ever, not so much as a word of thanks. “Oh, 
shame !” thought he. “What an ungrateful 
dog I have been! I am not in the haVnt of 
treating my black servants with such ingrati- 
tude. I not only pay them well for all they 
do for me, but I tell them that I love and 
appreciate them. Even my dog has received 
more attention than my Maker ; and soon the 
‘silver cord shall be loosened, the golden bowl 
shall be broken,’ and I ; what answer shall I 
give, when I stand before Him whom 
I have disregarded ?” These thoughts 
passed through his mind swiftly. Af- 
ter a slight hesitation he bowed his 
head reverently, and in a voice whose 
magic stirred the soul’s depth he peni- 


220 


GUYNDINE, 


tently acknowledged his sins and ingratitude ; 
asked God to forgive, and promised that from 
henceforth the King of kings should be para- 
mount in his heart and the supreme ruler of 
his life ; and that with God’s help he would 
now strive by a life of consecration to make 
amends, as far as possible, for the omissions 
of the past. His confession was so humble 
and childlike, that when he finished, Anna was 
sobbing and Guyndine’s eyes were filled 
with tears. Each felt that months of associa- 
tion might not have knitted their hearts to- 
gether as this circumstance had done, and 
they rose from their first meal together feel- 
ing as if they were old friends. 

Guyndine went to her room and began 
praparations for her return to Mrs. Dauks. 
She was busy removing the contents ol litr 
dressing case to her trunk, when Anna tapped 
at the door. ''I have come,” said she, as 
her eyes filled with tears, '‘to beg you not to 
leave me. I cannot live in this great house 
without you. Uncle will be down in the city 
at his office all through the day. I shall see 
him only at meal time, and I just cannot 
stand it. I have become so attached to you 
that no one else can take your place. Uncle 
wishes you to remain and sent me to ask 
you to kindly come to the librarv as he 
wishes to speak to you about it. If you will 
but stay a few months longer till I become 
accustomed to living without mamma, per- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 221 


haps then I can do without you ; but now I 
cannot think of it.’’ 

“Well, Anna, dear, I have had the heart- 
ache all the morning at the thought of leav- 
ing you, and if my staying can add one ray of 
sunshine to your sad life, I shall be only too 
happy to do so ; and it is certainly no sacrifice 
to exchange a boarding house for a man- 
sion.” 

“Oh, thank you,” said Anna, bending and 
kissing Guyndine, who was kneeling by her 
trunk. “Come now; I will send Dolly to put 
those things back ; you shall not do it. Let’s 
go down and see Uncle. And, oh ! Mrs. 
Kahree, he says he is saved ; that his 
sins are forgiven ; that today marks 
the beginning of a new life for him and 
that it was your example that set him to 
thinking.” 

“I am very thankful,” said Guyndine, “if I 
have been instrumental in bringing this 
about.” 

They descended to the library where Mr. 
Grannell awaited them. It was soon arranged 
that Guyndine was to give up all her pupils 
except Anna and remain in the Grannell 
home; after which the time till lunch was 
spent in delightful interchange of thought. 
Mr. Grannell observed that Guyndine seemed 
to parry every remark which had a tendency 
toward herself and the past. This deterred 
him from any reference to their meeting on 


222 


GUYNDINE, 


the train or at the church, and more than 
once he caught her eyes fixed on him with a 
peculiar wondering gaze and he suspected 
she was trying to recall where she had met 
him. 

After lunch Mr. Grannell went down town. 
He returned at six, and dinner was at once 
announced. As he entered the dining room 
his heart was swelling with gratitude to God. 
Never had his home seemed so sweet and 
cheerful as now, and his heart was rejoicing 
in that new found peace which follows the 
regenerate state. ''1 wish that every indi- 
vidual on earth could have just five minutes 
of the sweet experience that I have enjoyed 
today,’' said he to Guyndine. ‘‘Not a human 
being would remain one hour out of the 
Kingdom if they knew.” 

“Now, Uncle,” said Anna, as they arose 
from the table, “you shall have a treat. 
Come on.” And taking him with one arm 
and Guyndine with the other, she led them 
to the back parlor. She seated him in an 
easy chair near the piano and placed Guyn- 
dine on the piano stool. 

Some one has said that “music resembles 
poetry ; in each are nameless graces which no 
method teaches.” When Guyndine played she 
had the feeling that the piano was a living 
thing and her touch was like a caress. At 
once her spirit began its towering flight and 
she became oblivious to externals. As her 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 223 


graceful fingers swept the keyboard, Mr. 
Grannell closed his eyes and imagined the 
soft south wind breathing over a bed of dew- 
besprinkled carnations ; it lingered there for 
awhile stealing the odor and, like the honey 
bee, filling its wings with sweetness; rising 
it swept into the tree tops, rustling among 
the forest leaves, arousing the nightingale 
and the thrush so that they competed in 
melody for awhile, till the nightingale soared 
away singing as it went. And now the warb- 
ling wind returns nearer and nearer, till over 
the trees it hangs sighing and wailing like a 
voice from a broken heart, and at last, with 
a dying lament it seems to sink into the bed 
of carnations. Suddenly he opened his eyes. 
The last strain from the piano was so like 
a wail of human agony that he looked search- 
ingly into Guyndine’s face. It told him 
nothing; it was illuminated by an expression 
which he could not read. He recalled the 
face as he had studied it that day in the car 
more than three years ago. The agonized 
look had been replaced by an expression of 
sweet resignation. 'T am sure,'’ thought he, 
^'that it was no common sorrow; perhaps 
her husband had just died under peculiarly 
distressing circumstances." 

With Edgar Grannell music amounted to 
a passion. He had listened to the soul-en- 
trancing song and harmony of the world's 
most renowned artists, yet never had he been 


224 


GUYNDINE, 


more deeply stirred than he was at this 
moment ; for he was impressed with the feel- 
ing that her spirit had been breathing to his 
a tale of her life's tragedy. Here is a soul 
that can rise with hers to the celestial 
realm. No artist's touch is too delicate, no 
language too fine for him to appreciate and 
understand. 

The days glide into weeks, and weeks into 
months. Such sweet days they were that 
time seemed to fly on eagle's wings. 
There was not a ripple in the 
stream of peace and joy that flowed in the 
Grannell home. The hearts of this trio were 
daily becoming more closely united. The 
heart of one was, all unconscious to itself, 
being stolen from her bosom. The image 
that has enshrined itself within has crept in so 
stealthily and naturally that, not seeing her 
danger, she has made no effort to resist. She 
believed her exalted sense of honor and the 
ever present consciousness that she was 
united for life with another rendered her 
heart invulnerable. Like many a hero, be- 
lieving herself secure and failing to fortify, 
she loses her ground and her cause. This 
was what Paul meant when he said : ''When 
I am weak, then am I strong." Nor did it 
occur to her that possibly she possessed 
charms to which Mr. Grannell might be sus- 
ceptible. She was conscious of a strong af- 
finity between them, but to her mind it was 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 225 


simply pure friendship. Of course Mr. Gran- 
nell could not love her after having met and 
been associated with the most beautiful wo- 
men in the world. She considered him as not 
in the slightest danger. It surprised her, 
however, that life was now so very sweet to 
her ; her face had grown to look almost child- 
like. ‘'I did not think it possible,” she 
mused, ‘'that the world could ever again ap- 
pear fair to me. It is because I am busy and 
useful and fell that I am essential to the hap- 
piness of this family. Dear Anna could not 
live without me, and I believe Mr. Grannell 
is happier bcause I am in his home. He 
often says this ‘rambling old house would be 
very desolate now without the music. How 
he loves it! It is a pleasure to render it to 
one whose spirit it can wrap in esstasy. When 
I play for him I seem to feel his spirit float 
out with mine.” 

The winter came and went. The sweet- 
scented honeysuckle, the seven sisters and the 
prairie queen clambered over the verandas, 
vieing in their efforts to give beauty and shed 
fragrance on the air, as in the dewy morning 
and the shadowy twilight the master reclined 
in a hammock and indulged in dreams of ex- 
quisite possibilities in the near future; or 
closed his eyes in half somnolent repose as he 
listened to a low voice reading, or was lulled 
to sleep by strains of music from the room 
beyond. 

G-16 


CHAPTER XIX. 


The summer slipped away and bleak No- 
vember was ushered in with its long, delight- 
ful evenings in the library where the red light 
from the glowing grate was wont to fall over 
and illuminate a picture, which to Edgar 
Grannelhs mind, had become a Venus of 
moral and spiritual, as well as physical per- 
fection, on which his eyes never tired of rest- 
ing. 

Guyndine had been in the Grannell home 
fourteen months and was the only member 
of the household who did not suspect that 
the master was threatened with heart trouble. 
Anna was subject to smiling fits, the secret 
of which no one could prevail on her to 
divulge ; and sometimes a merry little laugh 
escaped which always made her hang her 
head and blush for it attracted attention to 
the fact that she was again amused without 
any apparent cause. Guyndine said she must 
have a lump of sugar hidden away in her 
mind somewhere upon which she feasted on 
the sly. One evening Anna went to visit a 
friend. As the clock struck six, Guyndine 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 227 


and Mr. Grannell passed into the dining room 
and took their respective seats at the dinner 
table. Within all was bright and cheerful, 
but without the wind sounded wild and 
weird. Guyndine poured the coffee and as 
she raised her eyes to pass him the cup she 
caught his gaze fixed upon her with a pecu - 
liar expression. Instantly her heart gave a 
leap and she felt the hot blood sweep into 
her face. Her heart had read the language of 
that look and responded without stopping 
to ask her leave. Her hand trembled as she 
passed him his coffee. 

“It cannot be,’' thought she. “I did not 
read aright; it is all my imagination. But 
what revelation is this that my fluttering 
heart is making to me ? I thought myself se - 
cure. What a mistake I have made ! Can 
it be that I love him? Yes ! Yes ! Oh, what 
shall I do, since now in my blindness I have 
stumbled into this? But I will not believe 
that he loves me. No, no, I was mistaken 
in that look, and I will overcome this foolish - 
ness. None but God shall ever know that 
I have been so weak.” 

As time and circumstances had widened 
the gulf between herself and Judge 
Kahree, the inspiration of her finest feeling 
was transferred from the sorrows of the past 
to her strong affinity for Edgar Grannell and 
his splendid character. All the ardor of her 
womanly nature that had been so long pent 


22S 


GUYNDINE, 


up and prevented from spending itself upon 
her husband now revealed itself in enthu- 
siastic sympathy, which gradually overcame 
the old vague sentiment, and now to her 
consternation asserted itself and took definite 
form. As she recognized the force of his 
strong intellect and high moral standard, she 
had submitted her mind to his and was so 
deeply impressed by the grand energies of 
his nature that unconsciously her spirit en- 
tered into closer communion with his than 
it had held with any other. She had not 
thought such a thing possible, and now she 
was confronted with a new problem. Had 
her affection reached a stage of maturity, 
which would make her strength insufficient 
to master it ? The answer came with peculiar 
clearness, but she refused to hear it, and re- 
solved to relentlessly crush the life from this 
pure offspring of nature, and to listen to no 
voice, however sweet and persuasive, but the 
voice of duty. 

The dinner was eaten almost in silence, ex- 
cept as each, realizing the unusual quietness, 
ventured a commonplace remark now and 
then. More than once during the meal she 
was thrilled with a penetrating consciousness 
that his eyes were resting upon her face ; 
and for the first time her eyes refused to 
meet his. 

As they arose from the table he silently 
opened the door for her to pass out, expect- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


223 


ing her to go to the library as usual. In 
the hall she bid him good night and went 
to her own room. For a long time she stood 
by the window with her forehead pressing 
the cool glass, looking into the flickering 
light of the wind-swept street. She was per- 
meated by a sensation not unlike that pro- 
duced by vibrating harmonies, and her mind 
was busy with a twofold argument. After a 
careful survey of the whole situation she 
drew a long breath of relief and seated her- 
self before the cheerful grate. She listened 
to the storm king as he rushed past her 
window and thought with pity of the shelter- 
less poor, and with David she said: ''What 
am I that God should be mindful of me.’' 

A servant knocked at the door and handed 
her a note which ran: "Mrs. Kahree, will 
you kindly come to the library for a few 
minutes? I wish to speak with you. Ed- 
gar.” She had so far persuaded herself that 
she had mistaken his look, that she now won- 
dered what he could have to say. With the 
note in her fingers she descended to the li- 
brary and knocked at the door. He opened 
it, bowed silently and motioned her to a chair. 
She sat down and waited, winding the note 
first over one finger, then over another, won- 
dering at his peculiar mood. He seemed to 
be in deep thought. With folded arms he 
walked back and forth through the room 


230 


GUYNDINE, 


for several minutes. ‘'He acts strangely,'’ 
thought she. “What if I read right after all ; 
but no, it cannot be ; I will not think it.” 

At length he took a seat opposite her. He 
looked pale and she thought : “Something 
is troubling him and he is going to tell me 
about it.” Suddenly he leaned forward, and 
placing a hand over each of hers said : “Mrs. 
Kahree, I love you. Will you be my wife?” 

She threw his hands off, and flushed scar- 
let. “Hush, for Heaven’s sake. I am a 
married woman.” 

He grew pale as death and his eyes flashed 
indignantly. “Why did you not tell me this 
months ago?” Both rose to their feet. “I 
had a right to know this. Why have you 
kept me in ignorance?” 

“Because I failed to recognize your right 
to know it. I could not forsee this and I 
did not know it could make any possible dif- 
ference to you whether I was married or sin- 
gle. And you did not ask me. Besides, I 
could have made no explanation. I can only 
say now, the man I once loved I do not now 
love as a wife should love her husband. My 
conscience is clear before God. I have not 
wronged Him; neither have I wronged you.” 

They stood looking into each other’s eyes, 
each heart beating like a caged bird against 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 231 


its prison bars. ''May I ask you one ques- 
tion?’^ inquired he. 

"As many as you wish.” 

"Are you the wife of Judge A. J. Kahree, 
of Kansas City?” 

"Yes.” 

She turned toward the door and paused 
with her hand on the knob. Human language 
is too tame to describe the agony that was 
depicted on those two faces. She turned 
away that he might not read it and he believed 
himself the only sufferer. 

"Mr. Grannell,” her voice was faint and 
tremulous. She spoke, not because she had 
anything to communicate, but to break the 
painful silence. "I think I had better return 
to Mrs. Banks.” 

There was a sarcastic ring in his voice as 
he replied : "I see you have a philosophical 
idea. You proceed to lock the stable since 
the horse is stolen.” 

She glanced at him in surprise. He was 
not himself tonight; that sarcastic tone did 
not belong to him. He continued in the 
same withering tone: "Your sex is credited 
with intuition ; knowing without the slow de- 
ductions of reason. You are a woman above 
the average in intellect, yet with all this, we 
have lived under the same roof for more than 
a year and you have failed to discover that 
for months I have been worshiping you. Do 
you think your going away now will mend 


232 


GUYNDINE, 


matters? It seems to be a small thing with 
you, to turn the heart's sweet current into 
gall,' to blast the spring of love and hope. 
Yes, go! and it may give you pleasure to 
knew that I wander, it matter not where. No 
clime, however fair, can restore me my peace. 
Go, and take with you the knowledge that 
one who believed you spotless as an angel, 
carries ever a wound inflicted by your hand, 
a wound bleeding and cruel, for which earth 
has no balm; a despairing heart for which 
there is no hope of cheering release." 

His words cut her like a knife. Slowly 
she turned and opening wide her dark eyes, 
looked him steadily in the face. A sweep of 
dignity came into her manner and counte- 
nance ; her form seemed to grow taller as she 
stood there in her conscious innocence. 
^'Mr. Grannell, I was not till this minute 
aware that you were capable of such injus- 
tice and unkindness. I thought of all men, 
you would be the last to misjudge me." She 
sank into a chair and covered her face with 
her hands. 

As he stood there with folded arms, look- 
ing down upon her, his eyes flashing and his 
proud lips wreathed with a smile of sarcasm, 
he looked like a Greek god. The knowledge 
that he, Edgar Grannell, who prided himself 
on his nobility of character, had for months 
been carrying in his heart the image of an- 
other man's wife, was almost beyond endur- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 233 


ance; and the consciousness that the image 
was indelibly stamped there, exasperated 
him; and like his father Adam, he blamed it 
all on Eve. But his generous nature soon 
rose above this. He had not yet had time 
to consider that it was the grandeur of her 
character that caused this fine reserve and 
noble reticence upon a subject which a wo- 
man with a coarser nature would unhesitat- 
ingly have communicated to him. After a 
time these thoughts crossed his mind. The 
angry light faded from his eyes and the smile 
from his lips. He turned and, pale and heart- 
sick, began to walk back and forth through 
the room. Again she rose to retire. He 
turned and stopped to look at her. He felt 
that she was about to depart from him for- 
ever; this woman of whom he had dreamed, 
not only for months, but for years, who, al- 
though another man's wife, he loved with 
all the strength of his intense nature. With a 
sudden impulse she also stopped and looked 
full into his eyes. There was no effeminacy 
in his nature. He was a strong man men- 
tally and physically, but as he stood gazing 
into her face, with those wondrous gray eyes 
looking into his, he felt the high tension of 
his nerves relaxing, his wildly beating heart 
growing calm and the fevered pulses cooling 
to their normal state. He felt as if he were 
about to sink into sweet repose, when he 
heard a voice which sounded far away : ‘'Au 


234 


GUYNDINE, 


revoir, Monsieur Grannell/’ and bowing, 
Guyndine left the room. 

He passed his hand over his brow and 
looked about him in a dazed way. Going to 
the window he threw up the sash and let the 
cool wind blow into his face for awhile. 

’Tis strange what a wonderful power of 
fascination that woman possesses. She holds 
me soul and body and she does it without 
effort. There is no artificiality nor self-con- 
sciousness about her. I believe I have just 
come from under the spell of hypnotism, but 
I am as sure she is not aware she possesses 
this invincible power of attraction, as I am 
sure that I am alive at this moment. But 
why has fate again imposed this suffering 
upon me? If I cannot have her, why could 
I not have died without having met her?’’ 

Here he was reminded of his conversion 
and of the influence for good which she had 
exerted over his life. ‘'How ungrateful I 
am !” murmured he, ‘T ought to thank God 
unceasingly that her life ever touched mine.” 

Mr. Grannell was right. Guyndine had no 
knowledge of hypnotism, but his imagination 
was playing him a trick. ’Tis said, “The 
lunatic, the lover, and the poet are of imagina- 
tion all compact.” His fancy made pictures 
which were not. He had made up his mind 
that she had little feeling for his suffering 
and was inclined to treat it lightly; and the 
peculiar state of his mind at the moment 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 235 


when her eyes met his, as he supposed for the 
last time, when all the strength of her in- 
tense nature was shining in them, and she 
was wrapt in that absorbing flame which tie 
had unconsciously kindled ; which he saw and 
felt, but. did not understand. This, with her 
strong magnetic nature, set in motion a force 
as overpowering to herself as to him. But 
he did not suspect that she suffered. Silent 
to the last, she heroically turned away and 
with heart breaking for his woes as well as 
her own, left him to think what he pleased 
of her. 

“The mistakes of my life have indeed been 
many,’’ soliloquized Guyndine, as she entered 
her own room and turned the key in the lock. 
“Here is another evidence of the terrible mis- 
take I made when I coaxed my love into an 
unnatural channel. If I had left the natural 
impulses of my heart to their own intuitive 
perception, I would never have married Judge 
Kahree. -I now see that I made as great a 
mistake as if I had married without love.’’ 

Guyndine expected to leave the house as 
soon as it was light, but she found the fol- 
lowing note under her door : “Please remain 
till I dispose of Anna. Edgar.” The next 
morning as they seated themselves at break- 
fast Anna looked first at one, then at the 
other. “Well, what on earth has happened 
to uncle and Mrs. Kahree? Why you both 
look like you had been sick a month; if you 


236 


GUYNDINE, 


had walked the floor the whole night you 
would not look more like ghosts. What have 
you two been doing? I shall not go away 
and leave you alone again.'^ The house- 
keeper, Mrs. Sims, who was passing through 
the room, stopped, and turning, looked at 
them curiously. ‘T believe they have quar- 
reled,'' whispered she to herself. '‘He is dead 
in love with her, that's sure." The pallor 
at once disappeared from the two faces and 
both turned very red as they felt Mrs. Sim's 
eyes upon them. Anna continued : 'T have 
a mind to put you both to bed and send for 
the doctor." Smilingly they assured her that 
they were both quite well and did not require 
her services nor those of the doctor. 'T am 
half inclined to think that old proverb about 
the cat and the mice is true," said Anna, 
laughing, "and the cat must not go away 
again." Both tried to smile, but it was a dis- 
mal failure. 

Some time in the afternoon Mr. Grannell 
summoned Anna to the library and told her 
that he was going to Europe, and he proposed 
placing her in a boarding school and closing 
the house, leaving the servants and Mrs. Sims 
to care for things. She shed many bitter 
tears over the prospect, but as there was no 
other way she tried to brace up and bear it; 
but she ran up to Guyndine's room and took 
one good cry with her face buried in her lap. 
"Now I feel better, and I am going to do my 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 237 


best for poor uncle’s sake. Mrs. Kahree, 
what’s the matter with him?” 

The question was so unexpected that Guyn- 
dine scarcely knew what reply to make. Af- 
ter a moment’s hesitation, she said : ''Don’t 
ask me, dear ; I cannot tell you.” Anna look- 
ed searchingly into her face for a moment 
and said no more. 

In a few days the house was closed. One 
was tossing on the waves of the restless 
ocean, while the other two, separated by 
hundreds of miles, knelt each night and 
prayed for the wanderer. 

One day a little more than a year after her 
return to Mrs. Banks’, Guyndine received a 
call from an elderly gentleman who said he 
was an attorney. Taking from his pocket 
a document he proceeded to read it to her. 
It was a notice of Judge Kahree’s application 
for a divorce. He also had a letter from 
the Judge, offering her liberal alimony, which 
she refused. 

"I declare,” said the attorney, looking at 
her wonderingly. "You are certainly an ex- 
ceptional woman. It is not common for 
them to refuse the money, let the provocation 
be what it will.” 

"Judge Kahree is a generous, noble-heart- 
ed gentleman,” said she, "and it is like him 
to make me this offer; but I cannot accept 
it. I have no claims on him or his money.” 

The attorney stared at her in surprise. 


238 


GUYNDINE, 


''Then you will not appear against him?'' 

"Oh, no ; I have no evidence to offer 
against him. His charge against me, that 
of 'deserton', is true ; but I ask for no divorce 
and shall remain true to him till death cuts 
the Gordian knot." 

He still continued to stare at her. "The 
Judge tells me that he is to be married as 
soon as he gets his divorce." 

He saw a look of surprise flit over her face, 
followed by one of pain. Her eyes filled 
with tears and her voice trembled as she re- 
plied: "Oh, I did not think he would ever 
marry; I did not think it." 

"If you do not want him yourself, you 
ought not to object to some other woman 
having him." 

"I object for the reason that I do not wish 
him to commit a crime; and unless he was 
divorced for the cause set forth in the Bible, 
he has no right to marry; in fact, there is no 
such a thing as marriage under such circum- 
stances. Christ tells us that it is adultery." 

"Mrs. Kahree — I beg your pardon, madam 
— you are too puritanical ; you are narrow in 
your views ; you are an extremist. Shall an 
individual, because he has been unfortunate 
and formed a misalliance, or been deceived 
and duped into loving that which too late he 
learns is unlovable, be doomed to a life 
de solitaire? obliged to drag out an existence 
without love? I think the individual con- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 233 


science should be the supreme dictator in this 
matter.'' 

‘‘Supposing the individual has no con- 
science," she said, inquiringly. 

“In that case he is irresponsible," replied 
he. 

“Ah, no ! In this age and land of Bibles, 
there is no such thing as an irresponsible 
rational being. There is no independence 
of the divine command for a Christian, nor 
is there independence of the circumstances 
and conditions of life which modify duty con- 
tinually. Yet after all we must choose our 
own course. Example, advice and influence 
do not coerce. We stand or fall for our- 
selves. Conscience therefore, is supreme in 
an important sense. I admit that I am nar- 
row; my leader, Jesus Christ, was narrow 
when measured by the world's broad 
gauge ; the road to eternal life is nar- 
row, and there was a time when the 
Church was narrow; but it has broadened 
to the extent that it takes in the whole world, 
and marches as amicably and sweetly with 
it as if they were twin sisters. But Christ 
did not come into this world to bring such 
peace as this. He came to bring a sword, 
to draw a dividing line." 

“The Church is narrow enough for me/' 
:said he. “I am glad those old puritanical, 
straight-jacket notions are dying out, and 
we are allowed some freedom; and I do not 


240 


GUTNDINE, 


envy you all the pleasure you will get out of 
life if you continue to adhere to your present 
principles/’ Rising, he bowed himself out. 
‘‘Good morning, madam.” 

“Ah, me ! Another professing Christian,” 
sighed Guyndine. “The sale for the thirty 
pieces of silver is repeated, and the crucifixion 
still goes on.” 


CHAPTER XX . 

“What a frail thing is man! it is not worth 
Our glory to be chaste while we deny mirth 
And converse with women. 

He is good who dares the tempter 
And corrects his blood.” 

In the city of London on a dark, foggy 
morning, two men, hurrying in opposite di- 
rections, turned a corner and collided. They 
saw each other, however, in time to turn aside 
enough so that neither was injured. Glanc- 
ing up, each begged pardon. Instantly their 
hands met in a warm clasp and their lips 
spoke simultaneously. 

“Edgar Grannell.’’ 

“Arrel Kahree.’’ 

“This is a most unexpected pleasure,^’ ex- 
claimed the Judge. 

“I am delighted,’’ said Mr. Grannell. “It 
might have been a tragic meeting had we not 
seen each other just as we did. But all is 
well that ends well.” 

“Oh, yes. The finale of an event often de- 
termines whether it shall go under the head 
of comedy or tragedy. But come, let us get 
in out of this disagreeable fog and take a look 


G-16 


242 


GUYNDINE, 


at each other; we are but a block from my 
hotel/^ He slipped his arm through Mr. 
Granneirs and led the way. Soon they were 
seated before a bright fire, enjoying their 
first meeting for more than twelve years. 

‘'Really, Edgar, I scarcely know whether 
I am awake or dreaming ; this is so unexpect- 
ed and so very pleasing.’’ 

“It was a surprise to me for the moment,” 
said Mr. Grannell ; “but I knew you were in 
London and I was looking for you.” 

“When did you arrive, Edgar? And how 
is our native land ?” 

“I can give you nothing but second-hand 
news. Judge, as I have not seen America for 
three years.” 

“Ah, indeed!” said the Judge. “I took a 
flying trip back a little more than a year ago.” 

“Do you purpose making London your 
permanent home?” inquired Mr. Grannell. 

“Yes, my interests are now all transferred 
and I think I will remain here.” 

Mr. Grannell attempted to lead the conver- 
sation into a channel where the Judge might 
speak further of personal matters, but he 
adroitly turned the subject. 

“America has some serious questions con- 
fronting her today, which certainly cannot 
be answered from an experimental stand- 
point. The least serious among them is not 
the trust, whose corruption fund has powder 
to grasp and hold Congress by the throat. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 243 


Then there is the Mormon question, the labor 
question, the negro question, the divorce 
question. These are essentially religious 
questions and the mightiest bearings upon 
human progress are involved in them.'’ 

“Yes," said Mr. Grannell, “they are serious 
questions and will require judicious handling, 
and if handled successfully, it must be done 
from a religious standpoint; yet I would be 
the last man to favor the uniting of Church 
and State. We have had object lessons 
enough along that line to last us into eter- 
nity, but really we are a Christian nation only 
in the sense that we are not heathens. There 
is little practical Christianity taken into mu- 
nicipal and national affairs; and if the j^re- 
diction of Lord Macauley does overtake 
us, it will be because we are not being led 
by the 'Fiery Cloudy Pillar.' This is his pre- 
diction : 'Either some Caesar or Napoleon 
will seize the reins of government with a 
strong hand or your republic will be as fear- 
fully plundered and laid waste by barbarians 
in the twentieth century as the Roman em- 
pire was in the fifth, with this difference ; that 
your Huns and Vandals will have been en- 
gendered within your own country and by 
your own institutions.' It begins to look as if 
the Huns and Vandals were even now reach- 
ing out to begin their work of plunder. Al- 
ready we can see the shadow of the oncoming 
foe and almost feel his touch upon our 


244 


GUYNDINE, 


throats. I believe the capitalistic schemes 
of the age will prove to be Huns and Vandals 
to our nation. The breaking out of the 
French revolution in 1789 which shook all 
Europe to its center was caused by the same 
principle, the disposition to grind their hob- 
nailed heels into the tender neck of their 
fellows. The capitalistic system of toda}'” 
and highway robbery are alike in principle. 
If our nation falls it will be because of its 
godlessness, and history will simply repeat 
itself. Men cry 'pessimist’ when they hear 
these truths. But from the beginning God 
has insisted on receiving recognition from 
His creatures and when they have failed to 
give it they have done so at their peril.” 

"There is but one way,” replied the Judge, 
"to keep passion’s hands off the reins of gov- 
ernment, and that is to educate the con- 
science, and nothing but the power of the 
Christian religion can do that.” 

At this moment a door leading to an ad- 
joining room was gently pushed open and 
there appeared in the doorway a vision of 
surpassing loveliness. She was evidently sur- 
prised that the Judge was not alone, and with 
a slight bow she stepped back and softly 
closed the door. Mr. Grannell glanced at the 
Judge. He sat gazing into the fire and had 
not observed her. Who could she be and 
what was she doing in his suite of rooms? 
He remembered that in his younger days the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 245 

Judge's reputation had not been immaculate, 
and he concluded that this was his mistress. 
But the Judge's next remark dispelled the 
idea. 

“Edgar, there is one thing I have not told 
you, and I should have told you the very 
first thing for it is the greatest event of my 
life. I have found the 'pearl of great price.’ " 
“Ah, indeed!" said Mr. Grannell. “I arn 
glad to hear it." 

After a short silence he resumed: “It is 
hard to realize, Arrel, that you, the proud 
aristocrat, have learned to bow before the 
meek and lowly Christ." 

“Yes," replied the Judge. “The vile liber- 
tine has been washed and cleansed and ex- 
alted to the privilege of heirship with Prince 
Immanuel. It is wonderful, wonderful I" 
There was a far-away look in his eyes, as 
he sat gazing into the fire. His mind was 
wandering backward through the misty av- 
enues of bygone years. With a sigh he 
turned and looked Mr. Grannell in the face. 
“Have you never married, Edgar?" 

“No, and it is not at all likely that I ever 
shall. I have learned, however, that 

'Of all the tyrants that the world affords, 
Our own affections are the fiercest lords.' " 
“Then you have loved?" 

“I have adored." 

“And in vain?" 

“Yes, in vain." ^ 


246 


GUYNDINE, 


After this neither seemed inclined to talk 
and both fell into a reverie which lasted till 
lunch was served. The afternoon passed 
pleasantly, but Mr. Grannell noticed the 
Judge’s abstracted manner, and when he rose 
to take his departure, the far-away look was 
still in his eyes. 

''How long do you expect to remain in 
London?” inquired the Judge, as Mr. Gran- 
nell was about to leave. 

"It is uncertain ; perhaps for several weeks. 
I am wandering about in an aimless way and 
it makes little difference where I stay ; there 
is no one to care much whether I live or 
die.” 

"We hope to see you often, Edgar. In 
fact, I shall feel disappointed if I do not see 
you daily. We shall expect you to dine with 
us tomorrow.” 

Mr. Grannell thanked him and bade him 
good evening, wondering if "we” would in- 
clude the charming woman on the other side 
of the partition. "Well,” mused he, as he 
slowly wended his way back to his hotel, "it 
is evident he loves Guyndine, if she doesn’t 
love him. He is a grand, good fellow. I 
wonder what could have been the trouble?” 

The next day was more dark and dism.al 
than ever. At five o’clock Mr. Grannell 
started for Judge Kahree’s hotel. The Judge 
met him with a cordial clasp of the hand, 
and again they seated themselves before the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 247 

cheerful fire in a pleasant interview. They 
talked of old times, old associations, politics, 
both home and foreign. The Judge again re- 
ferred to his recent trip to America. I 
wonder what could have taken him back?’’ 
thought Mr. Grannell, ''and I wonder if he 
saw her?” 

Dinner was announced; the Judge arose 
and knocked at the door behind which the 
beautiful vision of the day beiore had dis- 
appeared. It was instantly opened and she 
stood before them as fresh as a morning 
flower, so soft, innocent, graceful and fem- 
inine. "Mr. Grannell, Mrs. Kahree, My 
friend, the Hon. Edgar Grannell, Mrs. Kah- 
ree. 

Mr. Grannell was dumb with astonishment. 
He had not had the slightest intimation of 
this, not even a hint that the Judge was di- 
vorced. He was almost beside himself with 
joy at the thought that Guyndine was now 
free, and during the remainder of the evening 
was so preoccupied that he could scarce!}'’ 
keep the run of the conversation sufficient 
to reply. He took his departure early, glad 
to be alone with his own sweet thoughts and 
plans. 

The fog had settled somewhat and the full 
moon was struggling through the mist as he 
walked back to his hotel. What a change 
supreme is in the face and the song of natvire 
tonight. He had been listening to a voice 


248 


GUYNDINE, 


that spoke of the cold realities of life ; but 
now the rainbow mists, the whispering sea, 
the dancing wavelets, the soft breeze rustiitig 
the leaves, which a few hours ago seemed 
sad and had sounded almost dirge-like, were 
changed. ‘‘Nature and suffering are man's 
best teachers. They purify, broaden and lift 
him up." 

Mr. Grannell found it impossible that night 
to close his eyes in sleep till the clock struck 
two. Morning's earliest twittering sparrow 
aroused him. His first thought upon awak- 
ing was one of thanksgiving ; the next was of 
the home-bound ship. He found on inv«*sti- 
gation that the ship he wanted to take would 
not sail for a fortnight, which seemed a long 
time to wait. 

He spent most of his time with Judge Kih- 
ree. He soon discovered that the relati un- 
ship between the Judge and Mrs. Kahree 
was very peculiar. While he treated her with 
the utmost kindness and respect, it wh*? od- 
dent that the Judge's heart did not belong to 
her. He showed no fondness and not the 
least familiarity. It was also evident that she 
idolized him, but she was so diffident in his 
presence that she trembled if he touched her 
— ^which he never seemed to do except by 
accident — and blushed at his slightest glance. 
And her beautiful sapphire eyes 'vhen turned 
upon him seemed always pleading. The Judge 
never alluded to either of his marriages, and 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 249 


seemed to avoid the subject. Mr. Grannell 
observed that they occupied a separate suite 
of rooms, and that they spent little time in 
each other’s society. She was so exquisite 
in form and feature, so gentle and sweet in 
disposition, so timid and delicate in manner; 
and there was sufficient mystery connected 
with it to arouse his interest and sympathy. 

Mr. Grannell would not permit himself to 
indulge in idle curiosity, but there was some- 
thing in this affair that in spite of himself 
incited wonder; but he failed to solVe the 
problem and was obliged to lay it on the 
shelf with other mysteries and leave it there. 
The truth was the Judge’s heart was too sore 
to bear a discussion of the subject. His 
wounds were deep and the healing slow. 


CHAPTER XXI. 


“There’s many a slip ’twixt the cup and the 
lip.” 

The last day of the Hon. Edgar GrannelFs 
stay in London has at last arrived ; tomorrow 
morning he sails for home. He had dined 
as usual with the Judge and they were seated 
engaged in their last colloquy. 

The Judge was Mr. GrannelFs senior by 
several years, but they had known each other 
from Edgar's earliest recollection. They had 
drifted apart just before the Judge’s marriage 
with Guyndine, and had never met since, till 
they met in London. Naturally their minds 
drift backward tonight. 

'‘My life has been a winter’s day.” said the 
Judge; "a weary interval filled with emptv 
joys and vain hopes ; a crude scene of broken 
slumber and disquieted visions. Alas ! 

‘A breaking bubble and a fable told; 

A noontide shadow; and a midnight dream.’ ” 

Mr. Grannell’s heart ached for him. He 
knew where his mind was dwelling, and of 
whom he was thinking. He observed his face 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 


251 


grow a shade paler and the far-away look 
crept into his eyes. ‘^Yes/’ continued the 
Judge, “owing to the fact that T started 
wrong, my life has been a failure. I left the 
path of virtue. I had an idea, like many other 
young men, that it was not necessary for a 
man to be chaste till after he took the mar- 
riage vow, when, of course, an honorable 
man would be true to his vow. I shaped my 
course accordingly. After a few^ years of de- 
bauchery I married one of the purest and 
truest women that God ever let live. I mar- 
ried her knowing that I was not and never 
could hope to become her ideal. I deceived 
her into believing that I was ; my insane love 
determined me to marry her and risk her ever 
learning the truth. She learned it sooner 
than I expected, in a way I little anticipated, 
from my own lips as I repeated the story to a 
friend. She learned at the same time that I 
had hired the physician to whom I was talk- 
ing to perform an operation while she was 
under the influence of narcotics which re- 
sulted in infanticidium. From that hour she 
was never my wife, although she remained 
under the same roof with me, doing all she 
could conscientiously to make me happy, till 
I could endure it no longer. Oh, Edgar ! If 
ever a man had a severe punishment, I have 
had it, and I deserved it. Yes, I deserved it 
all 

The Judge was up now, pacing the floor 


252 


GUYNDINE, 


in the old nervous way. Mr. Grannell was 
deeply affected ; his heart was full of sym- 
pathy for his old friend. After a silence of 
several minutes the Judge resumed: ‘'But, 
Edgar, I would not have you think thaf^my 
marriage was a failure; it was the greatest 
blessing that ever came into my life.^’ 

He stopped in front of Mr. Grannell and 
for some moments stood looking down upon 
him with that abstracted look in his eyes. 
When he spoke his voice trembled; “For, 
Edgar, she led me to the Cross.’’ 

An hour passed. Not another word had 
been spoken. The Judge continued to walk 
back and forth. 

Mr. Grannell sat buried in his own medita- 
tions. “Judge, would you like to hear my 
story? If so, sit down and I will tell it.” 

The Judge threw himself into an easy 
chair in a listless manner, threw his head 
back, and placed his feet on a chair in front 
of him. He had started in to tell Mr. Gran- 
nell the whole story up to date ; but when 
his mind began to dwell on the terrible past, 
he lost himself completely, and forgot all 
about Rose and his second marriage. Stretch- 
ing himself back and sinking his hands into 
his pockets he said: “Well, go on.” 

Mr. Grannell began with a minute descrip- 
tion of a lady he had met on an Autumn 
morning eight years ago, on an eastbound 
train between Kansas City and St. Louis. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 253 


He told of the strange fascination she pos- 
sessed for him; the indelible impression she 
had left upon his mind; of his futile effort 
to shake it off and persuade himself that he 
was acting unwisely in allowing himselt to 
give a second thought to a woman of whom 
he knew nothing. — By this time the Judge 
was all attention. — He described his meeting 
with her at the church; his determination 
to learn who and what she was; his failure 
to find her. He told of his call to Havana; 
his return and the unexpected intrOvlu- tion 
in his own home ; of the scene at the breakfast 
table; his sudden, deep and pungent con- 
viction of sin ; and of his repentance and con- 
version ; and how, believing her to be a 
widow, he had loved her from that hour. 

The Judge is upon his feet again, walking 
the floor. 

He gave a minute description of the scene 
in the library; of his declaration of love, and 
offer of marriage; of her repulsion of him 
and how in desperation he had turned on her 
with withering sarcasm. “This is why T have 
wandered from home and native land. I'lie 
image of your wife has shaded the very sun- 
light of heaven. But now she is free and 
I am going home to try to win her./’ 

The Judge turned and extended his hand. 
He did not speak for a moment, and when 
he did, his voice was husky. “You are 
doomed to disappointment, my friend. She 


254 


GUYNDINE, 


will never marry while my head is above the 
sod. Mark my words, she will never do it. 
I know whereof I speak.’' 

Mr. Grannell’s face flushed and paled. 
''Why not? She is free, isn’t she?” 

'From a legal standpoint she is free, but 
she is opposed to divorce for any cause ex- 
cept the one which the Bible recognizes.’' 

There was another long pause. At length 
Mr. Grannell looked at his watch and rising, 
extended his hand. "It is midnight. Judge, 
and I must say good-bye.” 

The Judge clasped his hand and for a 
moment they stood looking into each other’s 
eyes. "Good-bye, Edgar, and God bless you. 
If I could die tonight and leave her free I 
would do it. OE would that I could! for 
your sake and her’s. I cannot see why I am 
spared, for there is nothing left lo live for.” 

"But what of your wife?” asked Mr. Gran- 
nell, with an inclination of his head toward 
the door of Rose’s room. 

The Judge stood with his eyes fixed on 
vacancy and did not reply till Mr. Grannell 
was turning away. "She is only rny sister, 
only my sister.” 

Mr. Grannell was puzzled to know whether 
he referred to Guyndine or Rose, and he con- 
cluded that he must have meant Guyndine, 
and that he did not hear his question. 

Mr. Grannell’s return trip was stormy and 
tedious. He felt a thrill of pleasure when 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 255 


his foot once again touched terra firma in his 
own native land. His heart leaped within 
him at the thought of her to whom every hour 
was bringing him nearer, and whom he felt 
he now had a right to try to win and to offer 
his love and protection. But how would she 
receive him? The Judge’s words recurred 
to his mind. ‘'She will never marry while 
my head is above the sod. I know whereof 
I speak.” 

“But,” reasoned he, “she has kept her vow 
to the letter, and I believe that the law of God 
applies only to the guilty party, and under 
the circumstances she would be exempt. She 
is not responsible for the deception which 
was practiced upon her; neither was she 
responsible for the divorce. According to 
the Judge’s own statement, he is the offend- 
ing party all the way through. The laws of 
the land have annulled the marriage, and I 
believe that so far as she is concerned the 
law of God is repealed, and I think if I 
succeed in winning her affections I can make 
her see it. The troublesome question is : 
Can I gain her love? I shall be a most mis- 
erable wretch if I fail in that.” He trembled 
at the thought of what might be before him. 
Perhaps having once loved and been so cruel- 
ly deceived she had lost faith in mankind. He 
had once believed there was no such thing as 
second love, and had thought his heart turned 
to stone, but it had suddenly revived and in- 


256 


GUYNDINB, 


Stead of losing, it had gained fire. The su- 
preme experience had again come into his 
life. It had forced itself upon him unsought. 
If he could love twice why could not she ? 

On a crisp December evening the Hon. 
Edgar Grannell arrived at home. He par- 
took of his dinner alone with a relish, for 
his health was good and his heart light. It 
was delightful after so long an absence to 
find himself again seated under his own vine 
and fig tree, basking in the glow of his own 
firelight. As he looked about him and sur- 
veyed the beauty and elegance of his sur- 
roundings he was conscious of a deep sense 
of gratitude to God. A soft voice seemed to 
whisper : 'Xovest thou me more than these ?** 
And like Peter he answered, unhesitatingly, 
in an audible voice, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest 
that I love thee more than these. ^ Oh, keep 
me from idolatry.’’ 

At this moment there came stealing into 
the room from the distance a breath of soft 
music; the delicate touch of master fingers 
swept the keys of the piano, and a rich so- 
prano voice sang : 

“I dreampt that I dwelt in marble halls 
With vassals and serfs at my side; 

And of all who assembled within those walls 
That I was the hope and the pride. 

I had riches too great to count; could boast 
Of a high anaestral name, 

But I also dreampt what pleased me most 
That you loved me still the same; 

That you loved me still the same.” 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 257 


Ah, that voice ! It was the one voice that 
could stir him to the heart’s core. For a mo- 
ment he sat spell-bound. At length he rose 
and crossed the hall, passed into the library 
and from there to the back parlor ; the door 
was ajar, he softly pushed it open and stepped 
behind a statue of Clio which stood near the 
door. How tenderly her voice seemed to lin- 
ger on the last line. He was assured by its 
trembling pathos that she was applying it to 
some one. Who could it be ? Did she, down 
deep in her heart, still love Judge Kahree? 
He was a man that it would be hard for a 
woman to turn from and forget. 

As Guyndine finished the song her hands 
dropped in her lap. For some minutes she 
sat in meditation. Suddenly she rose and 
came directly toward him. He thought she 
had seen him and he was about to step out 
from behind the statue, when she stopped be- 
fore an easel on which was a picture, so near 
him that he feared she would hear him 
breathe. He would have made his presence 
known but for the fear of giving her a fright. 

With her handkerchief she carefully wiped 
the dust from the picture, as she repeated 
Miss Landon’s lines : 

“The heart hath its mystery, and who can 
reveal it? 

Or who ever read in tne depths of their own ; 

How much we never may speak of, yet feel it; 

But even in feeling it, know it unknown.” 

“Oh, heart of mine, wayward and perverse, 

G-17 


258 


GUYNDINE, 


why will you not obey my will? You ignore 
even my conscience. I once thought I was 
strong, but I am weakness itself. Oh, sham.e, 
shame 

''Ah, whose picture is this?’' And this 
strong man of clear conception, statesman, 
diplomatist, stands trembling before the shad- 
ow of an imaginary foe. 

Guyndine turned off the gas and left the 
room and he heard the street door close be- 
hind her. 

Not knowing of his return she had come 
in answer to a request from Anna, saying she 
was homesick and asking for a few dowers 
from the home conservatory. As the ser vant 
girl let her in, she said, "Mrs. Kahree, Mistah 
Edgar done come.” Guyndine understood 
her to say that he was going to come and 
fearing the girl would notice the wave of color 
that swept into her face, she hurried on with- 
out comment. 

By the aid of a match, Mr. Grannell found 
his way to a gas jet and lighting it turned to 
the picture, and lo ! he stood face to face with 
his own handsome image. All his life he had 
practiced repressing the emotional side of his 
nature. As a consequence he had absolute 
control of himself. But now he made no ef- 
fort at self-control. He sank on his knees 
upon the spot where she had stood, and fer- 
vently thanked God for the revelation which 
had just been made to him. He remained 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 259 


long on his knees and placed upon the altar 
ot consecration all he is, all he has, and all 
he ever expects to be. 

Again he seemed to hear the soft voice : 
'Xovest thou me more than these V He was 
silent, his head sank a little lower, and his 
face showed an inward struggle. In one side 
of the scales was his treasure, in the other 
his Master. The struggle continued for sev- 
eral minutes ; at length he raised his head be- 
lieving he had gained the victory. ‘‘Yea, 
Lord, yet more than these. I can surrender 
even this one to Thy divine will, but I cannot 
give Thee up. But now that I know that she 
loves me it would be hard. O, grant that I 
may not be asked to drink from such a bitter 
cup.'' Does he know his own heart? We 
shall see. 

Deep midnight was brooding over the city. 
With David, Mr. Grannell had been looking 
into the fearful pit from which Jehovah had 
lifted him, and a song of praise sprang to his 
lips. Gratitude and joy filled his breast and 
that wonderful little germ which Christ com- 
pared to a grain of mustard seed had made 
a new growth within the last three hours. 
God does not promise to save his followers 
from trouble, but to deliver them out of it, 
and he is yet to learn, in its fullest sense, 
“how sweet is pleasure after pain." Ere long 
he will be called upon to draw heavily from 


26v, GUYNDINE, 

the supply of strength he has received in to- 
night’s baptism. 

The next morning Mr. Grannell called at 
Mrs. Danks’ boarding house, which was now 
only a block away, she having moved the next 
day after his experience at the little church, 
nore than six years ago. She has risen to the 
dignity of mistress of a fashionable boarding 
house in an aristocratic neighborhood. 

It would not be difficult to conjecture the 
state of Guyndine’s mind when John present- 
ed the Hon. Edgar Grannell’s card. She 
was obliged to sit down for a moment, it was 
so sudden. Her heart beat wildly and her 
breath came in quick gasps. But her strong 
will soon got the mastery and calmly she de- 
scended to the parlor. He was standing with 
his back to the door when she entered, ex- 
amining an etching which hung on the wall. 
Instantly he turned and came to meet her. 
He clasped her hand and watched the color 
come and go in her face. He enjoyed 
it immensely. There was an exultant 
light in his eyes, and a happy smile 
wreathed his lips. She observed that the 
lines of sorrow and disappointment, which 
his face wore when she last saw him, were all 
smoothed out and his face looked almost 
boyish. '‘Thank God!” thought she as she 
looked into his eyes, "he has conquered; 
it is all over.” But she caught herself sigh- 
ing and there was a sick feeling about her 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 26t 


heart. These hearts ; how they do deceive us ! 
Verily, ''the spirit is willing” but the flesh, a)i, 
the flesh ! 

"I had a letter from Anna's teacher a few 
days since/' said Mr. Grannell, refusing to be 
seated. "Anna is not at all well. I have tel- 
agraphed her to come home. She will arrive 
tomorrow. I came to ask you to do me the 
favor of coming to my house and staying 
while she remains." 

Guyndine looked away and did not answer. 
He continued: "It seems cruel to allow 
Anna to stay in that great lonely house with 
no white person except the housekeeper and 
myself. You are her choice above all 
others." Still she was silent. "You need not 
hesitate because of the past; let us forget it 
and begin again ; and I wish to ask you right 
here to forgive me for my cruelty and in- 
justice that night." 

There was a note akin to mirthfulness in 
his voice. She glanced into his face ; there 
was not a shadow of sorrow there. "He has 
ceased to love me and learned to love an- 
other," thought she. "But of what am I 
thinking? Would I have it otherwise? No, 
no ; it is just as it should be. I must rise 
above this ; I am surprised at my foolishness." 
But despite all her efforts there crept into 
her face a look of suffering. '‘There is noth- 
ing to forgive," said she. 

The smile faded from his lips. "Mrs. 


262 


GUYNDINE, 


Kahree, you will iKver know liow the words 
T spoke to you that night have cut and lashed 
me 

am sorry/^ said she. hope you will 
never think of it again. 

''Can you forget it?’' 

"I have never remembered it, so far as 
holding it against you is concerned.” 

"Then if you have forgiven me, you will not 
refuse me this favor. You are not looking so 
strong as when I left you. Can you not give 
up teaching for a couple of months ?” 

"No ; I cannot do that; but I will stay with 
Anna all my leisure time. I cannot be with 
her much except at meal time, Sundays and 
evenings.” 

"Thank you ; that will be better than not 
to have you at all. He bowed and was gone. 

She threw herself into a chair and covered 
her face with her hands. "What is the reason 
I cannot control myself? Am I growing 
weak and imbecile as I grow older? This 
must not be ; it shall not be ! I will overcome 
it.” There was a determined flash in her eyes, 
and her feet pressed the carpet very firmly 
as she passed out of the parlor and up the 
stairs. 

The next day Anna came. As soon as she 
was through greeting all at home she flew 
to Mrs. Banks. 

"Dear Mrs. Kahree, I am so happy to be at 
home again and to know that we are to have 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 263 


you with US as of old. I have come for you. 
It is a quarter till six and dinner is nearly 
ready. I could not eat without you. Uncle 
Tom will be over in a little while after your 
trunk.’’ 

‘'Anna, dear,” said Guyndine, as she re- 
turned the sweet girl’s warm embrace, “we 
have been separated a long, long time, and 
I can never tell you how I have missed you, 
nor how glad I am to have you back. My 
heart has ached many a time for a glimpse 
of your face and the sound of your happy, 
girlish laugh.” 

“Well,” said Anna, “it’s all over now for a 
while, at least, and we will proceed at once 
to have a good time. But, changing the sub- 
ject, hasn’t Uncle Edgar grown young and 
handsome though? I accused him of having 
found a sweetheart somewhere and he 
blushed like a boy.” How like a dagger 
these words shot into Guyndine’s heart. She 
forced a little laugh but made no reply. 

Once again after long and weary years, 
Guyndine stands in the hall of the Grannell 
mansion. As she and Anna were removing 
their wraps, Mr. Grannell met them with a 
hand extended to each. “How happy I am,” 
said he, looking into Gnyndine’s eyes, “that 
my little family is reunited.” He led her to 
her old place at the head of the table and took 
his seat opposite. His heart was overflowing 
with thanksgiving tonight. Aunt Rich de- 


264 


GUYNDINE, 


dared in the kitchen that ‘^Mistah Edgar is 
shuh ’nuff got mo' 'ligion lately. Seem to 
me Fse been stan'in' in de back hall hol'in’ 
dat big turkey plattah for whole hour waitin' 
fo' him to git done 'turnin 'thanks. I nebah 
hearn tell anybody sayin' such long grace at 
de table 'fo' in my life. I shuah nebah did." 

The days sped rapidly away. Guyndine 
found it impossible to prevent her mind from 
anticipating the evenings. During these 
brief hours of recreation all that had recently 
oppressed and grieved her flitted out of her 
heart like ghostly dreams at dawn of day. 

Two months elapsed in which her face grew 
fresh and fair as a new-blown rose and the 
old rippling laugh which had been hushed for 
years, returned. It had been the shortest 
two months of Mr. Grannell's life; but to- 
morrow Anna's vacation would terminate and 
Guyndine must return to Mrs. Banks’ board- 
ing house. 

Mr. Grannell sat in his office down town 
looking into the busy street, but he did not 
hear a sound nor see the hurrying throng. 
It had been a busy morning, and as each suc- 
cessive client came and began to relate his 
grievances, he wished him in Halifax. He 
was trying to formulate a plan and he wanted 
time to think. As an unusually tiresome 
client disappeared, he rose, entered his pri- 
vate office and locked the door. ‘'What is 
the use for me to try to endure that great 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 265 


empty house alone ?” mused he. “I love her, 
and I know that she loves me. I need her 
and she needs me. I will marry her this very 
evening. We will have a quiet wedding at 
Mrs. Banks', with Anna, Mrs. Banks and a 
couple of my gentlemen friends to witness the 
ceremony." 

He hurried home, and communicated his 
plans to Anna, who was wild with delight. 
‘‘But you are doing a bad thing for me, uncle. 
I shall be homesick now all the time. But I 
love' you both so dearly it will give me pleas- 
ure to know you are together even if I cannot 
be with you." 

“It will not be for long, dear. One more 
year will soon pass," said he, patting her on 
the cheek. 

It happened that Guyndine did not return 
to lunch that day, and he was obliged to wait 
until dinner to see her. It did not suit him 
to go to the office in the afternoon. His 
mind was full of nice plans, and he had no 
taste for business ; so he ordered the carriage 
and drove into the suburbs. At dinner Mr. 
Grannell was silent and preoccupied. Anna 
seemed to be literally bubbling over with glee, 
which susprised Guyndine somewhat, for in 
the morning she had seemed quite disconso- 
late that the time was so near when she must 
again leave home. 

As they rose from the dinner table, he said: 
“Mrs. Kahree, can I speak with you in the 


266 


GUYNDINE, 


the library for a few minutes/’ She bowed 
assent and silently followed him. She began 
to feel a premonition of what was coming. As 
she passed into the library he followed and 
closed the door; turning he faced her. She 
stood leaning against a book-case, pale and 
trembling. He had never seen her show so 
much agitation. He was conscious that she 
felt intuitively what he was about to say. 
'‘Mrs. Kahree, will you permit me to call you 
Guyndine?” Again she silently bowed as- 
sent. "Guyndine, my darling, my very 
own, I cannot permit you to leave me again. 
I want you to marry me at once, this even- 
ing.” 

She put out her hand in a deprecatory 
gesture. "Oh, Mr. Grannell, hush, I implore 
you.” 

"Call me Edgar, please.” 

"No, no! I must not. Mr. Grannell, why 
will you persist when you know that I have 
not the power to grant what you ask. I have 
told you before that I am bound to another. 
Why will you torture me thus?” 

"You are legally divorced and Judge Kah- 
ree is already married again. Are you aware 
of this?” 

"I was not sure of it; yet I knew he ex- 
pected to be. But that has nothing to do 
with my case. I must stand or fall for my- 
self. Before God I am bound by a solemn 
vow. The Bible recognizes no divorce ex- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 267 


cept for one cause, and in this case that cause 
never existed. Death alone can sever the tie 
which binds me to Judge Kahree.’^ 

Mr. Grannell had anticipated this and he 
forthwith produced the fine argument he had 
prepared for the occasion. In an eloquent 
appeal he set forth the several particulars 
which, in his opinion, repealed the law of God 
and rendered her irresponsible, and he fin- 
ished with an impassioned plea in behalf of 
two lonely lives whose paths must diverge if 
she persisted, and two loving hearts which 
must be torn asunder.'’ 

With a quick motion she raised her head 
and looked at him with wide-open, surprised 
eyes. “What do you mean?" 

He smiled back at her very complacently. 
“Just what I have said; no more and no less." 

“Mr. Grannell, upon what evidence do you 
base so presumptuous a statement." 

His smile developed into a low laugh, ex- 
pressive of amusement and satisfaction. He 
did not reply at once, but stood looking at 
her with an expression of assurance so unlike 
himself that her amazement increased with 
every breath. 

There was a tone of indignation in her 
voice. “Will you kindly answer my question, 
sir?" 

“Certainly; I have your word for it, my 
darling, which is quite sufficient;" 

“My word for it? When did I, by the 


268 


GUYNDINE, 


slightest intimation, ever tell you such a thing 
as this?'' 

Again he laughed in that amused way, as 
he saw the consternation depicted on her 
face. ''I stood behind the statue the night 
you told your secret to my picture." With a 
moan she sank into a chair and covered her 
face with her hands. “I did not mean ;o 
overhear it," he continued, ‘'but if you knew 
how it lightened my burden and how won- 
drous happy it made me, you would not re- 
gret it." 

She raised her flushed face for a moment. 
“If you knew how you are torturing me you 
would hush and never refer to it again." 

“Is it torture to know that you have made^ 
me inexpressibly happy?" 

“Yes ! Yes !" 

“This is the one drop of sweet in my bitter 
cup ; would you deprive me of it ?" 

“Yes; I would and I will," said she, again 
raising her flushed face and looking into 
his eyes. “I am determined to over- 
come it. I have an indomitable will ; it 
has served me well in the past and 
it shall do my bidding in the future. This 
‘drop of sweet' shall be taken from your cup. 
Hear me, Mr. Grannell ! As sure as you 
stand before me at this moment, I will con- 
quer this foolish heart and before three 
months I will look straight into your eyes 
and tell you that not a vestige of the foolish 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 269 


passion remains.” There was a determined 
flash in the gray eyes, as they gazed steadily 
into his, which caused a tremor of fear to 
cross his mind. She felt quite strong 
at the moment in a certain severe stoical phil- 
osophy in which she had long been instruct- 
ing herself. The problem before her seemed 
very simple. She would solve it as she had 
solved others. 

They stood for several minutes silently 
looking into each other’s eyes. Gradually 
the determined expression melted and her 
quivering eyelids fell under his gaze. 

''My peerless darling, transparent as pure 
crystal. When yonder blazing lamp ceases 
to warm the teeming earth ; when the hillside 
rill runs upward and the cedar tree changes 
its foliage, then and not till then will your 
constancy cease. Shall I not exult that I, un- 
worthy as I am, have won the love of such a 
woman ?” 

"Your exultation will be of short dura- 
tion,” said she. "Wait and you shall see. Do 
you think I do not know myself?” 

"Wait and you shall see,” said he, repeating 
her words with a confident smile. 

Her eyes flashed indignantly. "If you con- 
tinue this bantering manner I shall succeed 
sooner than I had hoped.” She rose and 
took hold of the door knob. He stood lean- 


270 


GUYNDINE, 


ing against the door, looking into her face 
with a quiet smile. 

'‘Will you kindly let me pass said she. 

"No, I am not ready; I have something 
more to say. I called this meeting and when 
I get through with the business before the 
house I will signify it by a motion to adjourn. 
Guyndine, my darling — 

"Hush ! Hush V’ she interrupted. "Mr. 
Grannell, why will you persist in calling me 
that?^’ 

With a low laugh, he resumed : "My dar- 
ling, my very own, I have crossed the blue 
Mediterranean; am familiar with the isles of 
Greece, 'where burning Sappho loved and 
sung have stood entranced before the finest 
pictures and statuary from the hands of the 
old masters ; but tonight memory’s 
shrine holds a gem which the 
wealth of the world cannot buy. 
It is the image of a fair woman, with 
a tender voice, standing under the gaslight 
before a man’s picture. Shall I tell you what 
she said? It is indelibly impressed upon my 
mind. I can repeat it word for word.” She 
put out her hand imploringly and her eyes 
sought the floor. 

It would not be easy to give the reader 
an adequate idea of all that is passing througli 
Mr. Grannell’s mind ; but he is at this moment 
standing under the shadow of the strongest 
temptation and severest trial of his life. He, 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 271 


whose fair name has never been sullied; 
whose ancestral lineage has been the boast of 
generations; whose dealing with his fellow- 
men has won for him their highest regard; 
who has been washed in the blood of Christ, 
and is sincerely trying to follow His foot- 
prints; even he, whom a few weeks ago we 
saw kneel and lay upon the altar of consecra- 
tion all he is, all he has, all he ever expects 
to be, saying wth Peter: “Yea, Lord, Thou 
knowest that I love Thee more than these;’' 
this man with his high standard of manhood, 
strong character and refined nature, is stand- 
ing on the verge of a precipice, and but for 
this woman with her clear conception of right 
and her sanctified nature, would topple and 
go over and drag her with him. This 
man, to whom the thought of the 
gross crime of adultery is revolting; this 
high-toned Christian gentleman, now has it 
in his heart to deliberately close his eyes to 
the command of his divine Master and let 
his affection lead him into a crime which, 
if not sanctioned by law and conventionalism, 
he would repudiate and contemn. Not that 
he was less conscientious than Guyndine, nor 
that his mind was not able readily to discrim- 
inate between substantial ideas and brain- 
wrought fantasies ; but never having investi- 
gated the subject he had few scruples about 
it; and it must be admitted that he was not 
seeking conviction, but conviction was grad- 


272 


GUYNBINE, 


tially searching him out. There was pro- 
found silence in the library. The smile faded 
from his lips. Edgar Grannelhs mind was 
struggling with strong forces. A deep sad- 
ness born of his keen sense of duty and 
his experience of the last few weeks filled his 
heart. He recalled his recent consecration; 
he was quite sure at the time that he had 
relinquished his hold upon everything earth-* 
ly. He remembered his words : 'T can sur- 
render her but I cannot give Thee up.'' How 
he had deceived himself ! He was conscious 
now that he had never seen the time when 
he was willing to surrender her, but he was 
impressed with the feeling that the time had 
arrived when he must choose between her 
and his God, when every attempt to prevail 
with her must cease.. 

She had thrown herself into a chair beside 
him. The cold breath of sorrow was again 
sweeping the chords of her heart, all sweet- 
ness seemed to have died out of life and left 
that ''stern daughter of the voice of God — 
duty." The silence remained unbroken; at 
length her voice calm and serene fell upon 
his ears: 

*‘And two shall walk some narrow way of life, 
So nearly side by side, that should one turn 
Ever so little space to left or right. 

They needs must stand acknowledged face to 
face; 

And yet with wistful eyes that never meet. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 273 

With groping; hands that never clasp, and lips 
Calling in vain to ears that never hear, 

They seek each other all their weary days. 
And die unsatisfied— and this is fate.” 

We have met; our hands have clasped; 
we have stood acknowledged face to face, but 
fate has decreed that we shall walk in separate 
paths. Let us be brave; let us be true.” 

She rose and extended her hand ; he clasped 
it for a moment and stood looking into her 
eyes. She saw the color slowly recede from 
his face. Suddenly he dropped her hand, 
caught her in his arms, kissed her lips and 
brow, then pushing her from him, said: 
^'Good bye ; it is over,” and opened the door 
for her to pass out. He closed the door after 
her and locked it. “Oh, false world! Oh, 
broken, bankrupt heart I Oh, life, thou gall- 
ing load.” The words fell from lips that were 
white with agony. He remained in the li- 
brary alone with his God for many hours, 
and came forth with shining face. He had 
been in the crucible, and the dross had all 
been burned away. It means something to 
follow Christ. He felt that his lips had just 
tasted a drop from the cup of crucifixion, and 
his soul was filled with “the peace that pas- 
seth all undertsanding.” 


G-18 


CHAPTER XXII. 


“There are many rainbows in your sky, 

But mine have vanished.” 

Notwithstanding the Hon. Edgar Gran- 
nelhs nonchalant manner and incredulous 
smile at Guyndine’s declaration that in three 
months she would look straight into his eyes 
and tell him that she had “conquered and not 
a vestige of the foolish passion remained,'*' 
he trembled when she said it, and it filled him 
with continual unrest. He had abandoned 
the thought of marriage; he was convinced 
that it was wrong. His will was now under 
subjection. He was willing, for Christ's 
sake, to make the sacrifice, but he felt that 
he was not called upon to surrender her af- 
fection. Yet he was conscious that this af- 
fection, to be acceptable to Christ, must 
measure up to the standard of Plato's ethics. 
He realized that with himself it would require 
grace, Herculean strength, and continuous ef- 
fort. But did not all the affairs of life require 
a struggle and extreme watchfulness to meas- 
ure up to the standard? “Be ye perfect, even 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 275 


as I am perfect?'' He also realized that she 
with her tenacious adherence to her sense of 
right, would attempt to mar nature's plan, 
commit self-murder, as it were, and offer the 
last fiber of her bleeding heart upon the altar 
of sacrifice. His only hope was that her 
strength would prove insufficient. “God 
grant that she may fail. Take all else but 
leave me this." He stopped; there was a 
momentary conflict in his soul. 'Neverthe- 
less not my will, but Thine be done.’ 

Owing to his suspense, the three months 
dragged themselves slowly away. Only a 
block distant and he had not had a glimpse 
of her since that night when he bid her “good 
bye" in the library. His silent, lonely heart 
felt oppressed with its solitude, and tonight 
he was longing for her sympathy and the 
touch of her hand. It was a bright April 
evening. He was at home, walking back and 
forth on the lawn in the moonlight. His hat 
was pulled down over his eyes and his hands 
sunk deep into his pockets. Now that the 
time had come when he might end sus- 
pense he hesitated ; there was a dull pulsation 
within. He felt a strange affinity with the 
withered leaves at his feet. It seemed that 
all motive for action had slipped away and 
left nothing but depressing fear. 

Suddenly with an effort he turned, removed 
his hands from his pockets, lifted his hat, and 
with a firm, quick step passed down the walk. 


276 


GUYNDINE, 


out of the gate, and turned his face toward 
Mrs. Banks' boarding house. As he passed 
in at the gate he saw the flutter of a dress 
on a balcony in the second story. One glance 
assured him it was Guyndine. John answered 
his ring and he quickly passed up the stairs 
and in a moment was standing before her. 
She rose and they stood with clasped hands, 
she with averted eyes. Did her face flush and 
pale, or was it the play of the shimmering 
rays of the moon? 

''Guyndine," said he, in a low voice, which 
would tremble in spite of himself, "the three 
months are up when you were to look into my 
eyes and tell me of a victory you had gained. 
Are you ready to tell me tonight that 'not 
a vestige of that foolish passion remains'?" 

There was no longer any doubt as to the 
rush of color to her face. For years she 
had not allowed herself to become angry, but 
at this moment her face was ablaze with in- 
dignation. The consciousness that she had 
failed, and the thought that he knew it and 
was exulting over it, was beyond endurance. 
But dearly did she pay for her anger. If she 
could have known the truth and have 
had a glimpse of what was before her, 
how differently would she have replied 
and what a world of remorse and sor- 
row it would have saved her. But in 
a moment of weakness she allowed her pride 
to step in between God and herself, and be- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 277 

tween herself and the man she loved. She 
drew her hand from his and her eyes flashed 
fire. ‘'If I continue to feel as I do tonight 
and you continue to taunt me, success will 
soon crown my efforts and I may even learn 
to — She paused, her breath came short 
and quick. 

“Finish the sentence,’' said he, in a calm 
voice. “Is it that you might learn to hate 
me ?” 

“Yes.” The color faded from her face 
leaving it white as death and every nerve 
in her being was trembling. 

Mr. Grannell seemed stunned and did not 
reply for several minutes. When he spoke 
his voice was low and full of suffering. 
“Guyndine, is it possible ? Is it possible that 
you have so misunderstood me as to think 
that I could condescend to anything like this ? 
I did not think it necessary to explain that 
suspense had driven me here; that I was 
lonely and hungering to see you.” 

‘T beg pardon, Mr. Grannell, if I have done 
you injustice. I am not responsible for the 
fact that duty is a cold and relentless task- 
master. You have no right to hunger to see 
another man’s wife, and I have no right to 
receive visits of this character from you or 
any other gentleman.” 

“Oh, Guyndine, why will you persist in thus 
lacerating your own heart and mine ? If you 
were another man’s wife I would be the last 


278 


GUYNDINE, 


man to care to visit you/' With a face ex- 
pressing the deepest pain he turned. ^‘But 
if this is your answer, good night." 

She stood motionless and listened to his 
footsteps a§ he passed through the hall, down 
the stairs and out at the front door ; she heard 
the door close after him, watched him as he 
passed down the broad stone walk, heard 
the gate click, saw him pass out without a 
glance backward, watched the beloved form 
recede until it entered his own gate and was 
hidden by the shadows of his own shrubbery. 

‘'Oh, my God !" she moaned, as she sank 
into her chair, “earthly trials are at times 
almost unbearable ; and only that I know that 
I am doing right, I could not endure this. 
But I must crush his affection for me and 
avoid these interviews. They only make 
matters worse. But I am forced to admit 
that I love Edgar Grannell with a love which 
it is impossible for me to overcome. I have 
battled against it with all my strength, but 
to no purpose. I know this, that God will 
not hold me responsible for what I 
cannot help ; but he will hold me 
responsible if I allow this passion to 
lead me into temptation or to tempt 
Edgar to go wrong. I realize that I am my 
brother's keeper." The words of the attor- 
ney recurred to her mind: “I do not envy 
you all the pleasure you will get out of life 
if you continue to adhere to your present 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 279 

principles.’’ 'Terhaps,” mused she, '‘what he 
would call pleasure would be torment to me. 
A clear conscience and the knowledge that 
God’s eye rests upon me approvingly, is the 
sweetest of all pleasures.” But in spite of 
these brave sentiments, Guyndine felt chilled 
and benumbed. There was a vague reprov- 
ing voice within which grew more and more 
distinct, and filled her with remorse. The old 
carnal nature, with its quick temper and im- 
pulsive tongue, which in her early life had 
caused her so much pain and which she sup- 
posed was long since dead, had at a time 
when she most needed her self-control and 
tenderest sympathy, again asserted itself. 
Bitterly did she repent. The world sees the 
Christian’s mistakes but it cannot see when 
he goes before God and makes them right. 
But she deemed it wisdom, under the circum- 
stances, to offer no apology. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


The stream of time has swept another year 
into eternity. Mr. Grannell and Guyndine 
have not spoken together since that night on 
the balcony. They have had glimpses of each 
other on the street, and at church, and one 
evening the usher seated her by his side. 
Somehow Morpheus failed to arrive at his 
usual time that night, and Mr. Grannell re- 
tired late. And when the night was far spent 
and the moon was sinking behind the west- 
ern hills, a woman's wide open gray eyes 
looked full into her face, and, as with a 
sigh of resignation she lay her head 
upon the pillow, her lips murmured: ^'Thy 
will be done." 

On a dark, stormy evening, the last of 
March, the Grannell surrey stopped at Mrs. 
Banks'. A servant had a note for Mrs. Kah- 
ree. As John presented the silver platter on 
which lay the white-winged messenger, the 
soft lavender perfume which always seemed 
to linger in the Grannell home, rose to 
meet her. The letter was from Anna. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 281 


She opened it and read : ''Dear Mrs. Kahree : 
— Uncle Edgar is dying and wishes to see 
you. Come at once. Anna.'' 

There was no moan, no tear, no sigh, only 
the white set face to indicate that there was 
any feeling. The calmness of despair was 
again upon her. Throwing a cloak about her 
shoulders she entered the carriage and was 
soon standing in the hall of the Grannell 
mansion. A peculiar hush seemed to pervade 
the whole house. The handsome dark-eyed 
master, with tender smile and outstretched 
hand, was not there to greet her as of old. 
All was cold, silent and desolate. Mrs. Sims, 
the housekeeper, met her and with tear- 
stained face, silently removed the damp cloak 
from Guyndine's shoulders, and hung it on 
the rack, and beckoned her to follow as she 
led the way up the stairs. 

Guyndine began to feel sick and faint and 
was obliged to hold to the banisters and pull 
herself up step by step. Arriving at the door 
of his room, Mrs. Sims softly opened it, and 
as Guyndine entered, she closed it and re- 
tired. As her eyes met the picture presented, 
Guyndine turned blind, staggered forward, 
and sank upon a chair. 

"Oh, Doctor," whispered Anna, "she is 
going to faint." 

The Doctor sprang to her side. She shook 
her head. "No, no ; I shall not faint." 

There upon the bed, in a comatose state, 


282 


GUYNDINE, 


with death written on every feature, lay the 
man against whom she had battled with her 
heart for years. Her blood seemed frozen 
with appalling dread. She sat gazing upon 
the scene with a sort of agonized fascination. 
A sudden gulf seemed opening into a dark 
abyss, into which relentless hands were push- 
ing her. Not a ray of light penetrated the 
darkness ; every power of her being seemed 
merged into that of suffering. She wondered 
how long reason could retain its throne under 
such a strain. She heard the tick, tick, tick, 
of his watch as it lay on the table. She re- 
membered it was counting Edgar’s very last 
heart throbs. She rose and staggered into the 
hall and stood for awhile, leaning against 
the wall panting for breath. She was haunt- 
ed by a pair of sad eyes and a low, grieved 
voice which said: ''Oh, Guyndine, why will 
you persist in thus lacerating your own heart 
and mine? But if this is yoiir answer, good 
night.” Oh, that last interview ! if it could be 
blotted out she could endure the rest. "How 
could I feel angry with dear Edgar? How 
could I tell him I would drain the last drop 
of sweet from his bitter cup ? Why did I not 
tell him the truth?” 

She re-entered the room, and stepping to 
the Doctor’s side whispered, "Doctor, is there 
no hope?” 

"There is life,” said he, "but it is my opin- 
ion he will cease to breathe before midnight.” 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 283 


Anna rose and coming forward, said: 
''Doctor, uncle sent for Mrs. Kahree and 
wishes to speak with her alone. Shall we re- 
tire?'’ He bowed and both passed from the / 
room. 

Guyndine bent over the man she loved 
while the bird of the sable wing hovered 
near. "Edgar," said she, in a low wail of 
anguish. 

He opened his eyes. "Guyndine, darling." 
Clasping her hand he drew it to his lips. 

"Oh, Edgar, you are not going to leave 
Anna and me alone in this cruel world! Oh, 
surely you will not." 

"I think I must; I feel that I am dying; 
but I cannot die satisfied and leave you shelt- 
erless. You must marry me, Guyndine, so 
that you may bear my name and that I may 
endow you with, my earthly possessions. 
There is no selfishness in it this time; all 
I ask is that I may die with my head pillowed 
on the arm of my wife. You will not refuse 
this, my dying request?" 

Her answer came like a wail from a broken 
heart. "Oh, Edgar, have mercy! Have 
mercy and pity me ! But I cannot, I dare 
not. I am still his wife." She was free at 
this moment, but she was not aware of it. 

"Darling, think again," said he, in a faint 
voice. "There will be no sin connected with 
it, for I am certainly slipping away from 


284 


GUYNDINE, 


earth. There is a clergyman waiting below 
stairs to perform the ceremony.'' 

'‘My conscience says 'no'," was her reply, 
'and, Edgar, I must not; oh, I dare not, 
though I break your dear, dying heart." 

With an exhausted sigh he turned his face 
partly away and seemed to be sinking into 
unconsciousness. She sank on her knees be- 
side the bed, slipped her arm under his head 
and drew it close to her breaking heart. Ten- 
derly she smoothed the dark, silky locks from 
the broad white brow. Not a tear moistened 
her eyelids as she fixed her burning gaze 
upon the features which she felt were so 
soon to be hidden from her forever. Her 
face looked as if she, too, were dying. He 
had relapsed into the comatose state and 
lay with his glassy eyes half open. 

Softly stroking forehead, face and hair, she 
continued to gaze for several minutes into 
his face, trying to indelibly imprint upon her 
mind every feature. At last she placed his 
head back, upon the pillow, pressed one kiss 
to his lips and hurried out of the room and 
out of the house. Forgetting her cloak, she 
walked home through the pelting rain with 
uncovered head. All night she paced the 
floor of her room, never thinking of her damp 
clothing; remembering only that Edgar was 
dying and that she had refused to allow him 
one drop of sweet in his bitter cup ; and failing 
to stifle her love for him she had tried to de- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 285 


ceive him ; she who had always been so truth- 
ful, who had prided herself upon her honor, 
as being above practicing deception in any 
form upon anyone, had tried to deceive the 
man she loved, thus depriving him of the little 
happiness she might have bestowed upon 
him. '‘And I thought I was doing my duty.'’ 

The next morning as she was still pacing 
the floor, some one passing through the hall 
remarked : 'T understand that the Hon. Ed- 
gar Grannell died last night." "Yes," replied 
another voice "so I heard." 

She sank on the floor in a swoon. Some 
time later Mrs. Banks found her, and be- 
side her was the open note which she had re- 
ceived the evening before. Guyndine re- 
membered nothing more for many days. All 
through her delirium, she was pleading for 
some one to anoint Edgar in the name of 
Christ, that he might be healed before it was 
too late. 

When she recovered consciousness, Harry 
was bending over her. She heard the rustle 
of garments and the closing of a door as some 
one hurried out of the room. • 

"Sister, do you know me?" 

"Yes, it is Harry. But where am I? and 
what is the matter with me?" 

"You are in your own room at Mrs. Banks' 
and you have been very ill for two weeks." 

"When did you come, Harry?" 

"I came last evening in answer to a tele- 


286 


GUYNDINE, 


gram. I started on the first train, praying 
with every breath that I might not be too 
late.’’ 

Oh, yes ! ‘'said she,” it all comes to me now. 
And oh, that load ! that load ! Why could 1 
not have died? Must I again take it up? 
“O Harry, I am so tired.” And with a de- 
spairing look she turned her face away. 

“Sister, supposing I lift the load from your 
heart?” 

“You cannot lift it. I must carry it, or be 
crushed by it ; it yet remains to be seen 
which.” 

“Guyndine, did you ever hear of good news 
killing anyone?” 

“I don’t know,” said she in an apathetic 
way. She felt that there could never be any 
more good news for her till the angels 
brought the news that her time had come to 
join Edgar in the spirit world. 

“What would you say if I should tell you 
that your friend, Mr. Grannell, is living and 
rapidly convalescing?” 

“Harry! Harry!” she almost screamed. 
“You do not mean it? Oh, don’t trifle with 
me, I implore! You will kill me, for you 
cannot mean it ; O no !” 

“Yes, but I do mean it. It is true.” 

Her answer was a low sob, and the pent up 
grief which had for weeks been scorching her 
brain gushed forth in tears of joy. Harry 
left the room to give her a chance to sob it 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 287 


out alone, and stood in the hall talking to 
some one in a low voice. When he returned 
a half hour later, he found her asleep. He 
beckoned to the nurse who took her station 
beside the bed and Harry retired. Guyn- 
dine slept sweetly all night. When he en- 
tered the room in the morning she was calm 
and bright. She held out her hand to him, 
and she picked up the subject they had drop- 
ped the previous evening and continued it as 
if it had been but five minutes. ‘‘Now, Har- 
ry, go on and tell me the rest, my beautiful 
brother. How handsome you are, and how 
sweet to have you with me once more. It 
has been so long, so long.’^ 

Harry smiled. “Guyndine, I shall be 
spoiled if I stay with you long. A fellow 
would have to be made of cast-iron to with- 
stand such extravagant compliments as 
yours. You will have me inflated till I can’t 
wear my old clothes. • 

“I can't help it ; if the truth spoils you, you 
will have to spoil. But go on and tell me." 

“When I arrived day before yesterday, I 
found you in what the Doctor said was a 
dying condition. The Doctor, Mrs. Danks, 
Miss Anna and Mr. Grannell were with you. 
I hurriedly explained that I was going to 
anoint you for healing in the name of Jesus 
of Nazareth. We all knelt around your bed 
and as I applied the oil every voice was heard 
pleading for your healing. There was not a 


288 


GUYNDINE, 


waver in my faith for I have seen God tested 
so many times that I know what He will do 
for those who trust Him. Mr. Grannell held 
his hand on your pulse and he said that al- 
most instantly it grew strong and natural. 
You fell into a sweet sleep and did not waken 
till yesterday when we had our talk. Then 
you slept again and did not waken for twelve 
hours, and now you are well, except that you 
are weak. All you need to do now is to rest 
and eat, and you will soon be your old self 
again.’’ 

''Oh, Harry, God is good.” 

"Could you say that when you were pass- 
ing through the fiery furnace ?” 

"Yes, Harry, I said it through it all.” 

"But,” said Harry,” I have something more 
to tell you. Mr. Grannell says he owes his 
life to you.” 

"Owes his life to me? How can that be?” 

"I do not know as you are aware of it, 
Guyndine, but it seems that you are heavily 
charged with magnetism.” 

"Judge Kahree always said so,” she inter- 
rupted. "But I thought he imagined it.” 

"Mr. Grannell says,” continued Harry 
"that as you stood by his bed that night, sud- 
denly he felt himself sinking. He lost his 
power of speech, but he did not entirely lose 
consciousness. He said you instantly noticed 
the change and, kneeling beside him, you 
slipped your arm under his head, and as you 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 289 


did so, your sleeve was pushed up, and your 
bare arm rested against his neck. The touch 
thrilled him through. You then began to 
stroke his forehead and face; each stroke 
brought a responsive thrill from every nerve 
of his being. As your lips met his in the last 
good-bye, he felt as if an electric battery had 
touched him. He sank into a quiet slumber 
and at midnight the Doctor came and said he 
would live, and that the change was most 
marvelous.'’ 

''Well, Harry, I shall be obliged to differ 
with Mr. Grannell. If I was instrumental in 
saving his life, it was by my prayers and not 
my magnetism.” 


G— 19 


CHAPTER XXIV. 


It was evening, two days later. Guyndine 
sat before a bright fire in her own little re- 
ception room. Harry put his head 
in at the door. ‘'Sister, can you receive 
guests this evening?'' Without waiting for 
a reply he threw the door open and ushered 
in Anna and Mr. Grannell. Anna came first, 
and putting her arms about Guyndine, kissed 
her fondly. Brushing a tear from her eyes 
she said : ‘‘Oh, Mrs. Kahree, you and uncle 

have about killed me !" 

“Poor Anna, you have had a hard time," 
said Guyndine, “but I hope the worst is over. 
You have been a dear, brave girl." 

As Mr. Grannell stepped forward, Guyn- 
dine rose to her feet. Their hands met, and 
for a moment those two who had so recently 
come up out of the valley of the shadow, and 
who knew what it was to suffer the pangs of 
death, stood speechless looking into each 
others eyes. In a voice tremulous with 
emotion Mr. Grannell said : “Let us pray." 
And kneeling there with her hand clasped in 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 291 


his, in language as beautiful as ever fell from 
human lips, he sent up a prayer of thanks- 
giving, acknowledge4 and deplored his un- 
faithfulness, and renewed his consecration 
vow, finishing with the Lord’s prayer in 
which each voice joined. 

As they rose from their knees, Mr. Gran- 
nell said: “What we have so recently wit- 
nessed of the wonderful power of God, has 
caused my faith to take a new hold on Christ. 
I have taken a solemn vow that from hence- 
forth every energy of my being shall be de- 
voted to His service. I have been deliberat- 
ing upon whether I could best serve the Mas- 
ter by changing my profession and becoming 
a minister of the gospel and I have decided 
that in my own profession is a boundless field 
for labor in which, perhaps, I can do more ef- 
fective work than I could do as a minister. 
Those amazing words of our Christ, ‘And I, 
if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me,’ 
seem written in letters of fire upon my heart, 
and from henceforth the first business of my 
life shall be, by earnest paintaking effort, to 
lift Him up. With God’s help, I will lift Him 
up on the street, in the office, in the court 
room, in the political caucus, and in the legis- 
lative hall. This change in my tactics will 
probably not add to my popularity, for I shall 
enter into a personal battle for purity and 
clean, honest government. Regardless of 
every thing else, I shall put myself squarely 


293 


GUTNDINE, 


on the side of right, and I expect it to be a life 
of stress, storm, heart-ache, and trials. And 
let me say just here that had it not been for 
the example of the heroic little woman beside 
me, I should never have had the moral 
courage to step out and take this stand.’’ 

‘'Oh, please don’t,” said Guyndine, color- 
ing and putting out her hands in a depreca- 
tory gesture. “I do not deserve this ; it is all 
owing to the religion of Christ and your own 
noble nature.” 

“It is not likely,”’ said he, “that I would 
have been a Christian if I had not known you, 
and there was little true nobility in my nature 
till Christ took me in.” 

“If uncle is going to do so much good in 
the world, then I will go to China and be a 
missionary,” declared Anna. But Harry had 
already decided that Anna’s work should be 
home mission work. Her purple eyes had 
been his heart’s undoing and he had no 
notion of surrendering her to the heathen. 

In the course of the evening Mr. Grannell 
bent over Guyndine and said in a low voice : 
“You will not refuse to let me see you often 
now? We can be companionable if we can- 
not marry. I have banished all thought of 
marriage, but there is no harm in pure Plato- 
nic love. Our past association has been my 
salvation. I owe everything to your persis- 
tent adherence to your convictions ; you 
saved me from crime. It is true it would 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 293 


have been committed unwittingly, as I was 
blindly wrapped in the conventionality which 
custom has established ; but I am aware that 
ignorance of the law does not palliate crime. 
I knew that the Bible taught this doctrine 
which you advocate regarding divorce and 
marriage, but I really thought it was under 
the old dispensation. I was ignorant of the 
teaching of Christ upon this subject, as I 
never studied the Bible much till since I met 
you ; and being so madly in love with you — 
which, by the way, I am not cured of yet — I 
fear I was too willing to remain in ignorance. 
But, thank God, you have been to me a doc- 
tor of both laws. Drummond says that love 
is the final result of evolution, but in this case 
evolution seems to be the result of love.'^ 

‘'Drummond also says,’' said Guyndine, 
“that ‘evolution is not progression in matter ; 
matter cannot progress. It is progression 
in spirit, in that which is limitless, in that 
which is most rational, most human, most di- 
vine.’ And I shall be satisfied if, with my 
small talent, I am permitted to help to unfold 
or to exhibit more clearly one of the smallest 
of God’s truths. And, Edgar, what you have 
just said makes me very happy.” 

“And you make me very happy, said he 
smiling, “by calling me Edgar. You refused 
to do that till you thought me dying.” 

“Yes, I was cruel and unkind, but I was 


294 


GUYNDINE, 


trying to do right, and I know you have for- 
given me long ago/^ 

''You have been the dearest and best friend 
on earth to me, Guyndine, so let us never re- 
fer to this subject again. But you have not 
answered the question I asked you.’’ 

"I beg pardon, I have forgotten what it 
was.” 

"I asked permission to call on you when I 
pleased.” 

"That depends largely upon how often you 
would please to come.” 

"Would you tire of me ? Could I come too 
often?” 

"Oh, no ! not that. I was thinking of pub- 
lic opinion. One can never afford to ignore 
Mrs. Grundy, you know. I feel that now 
since we understand each other so thorough- 
ly, it will not injure us to associate closely, 
but we must be wise and prudent.” 

"Then I may come occasionally, or semi- 
occasionally ; which?” asked he, smiling. 

"I think occasionally would perhaps suit 
Mrs. Grundy better.” 

"I will try to time some of my visits when 
the old lady is asleep.” 

"The trouble is, she never sleeps ; her 
vigils are unceasing. I think I can trust to 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 295 

your judgment, however, as to how often you 
should come.’^ 

‘'Thank you, this is quite a different reply 
from the one you gave me the last time I 
spoke to you on the subject. Evolution 
seems to have been doing something for me. 
At least there has been a revolution.” 

“Yes, and a revelation, Edgar.” 

From this time forth they spent as much 
time together as they felt they could without 
exciting uncomplimentary remarks. They 
read together, consulted together, planned 
with and for each other, attended the same 
church and bowed at the same sacramental 
altar. There was no familiarity between them. 
Occasionally their hands met, but never their 
lips. Once a few evenings after her recovery, 
as he was about bidding her good night, he 
put his arm about her and drew her to him. 
As she saw that he meant to kiss her, she 
stepped back “Edgar, I am astonished ; this 
must not be. Platonic love and the touching 
of lips do not accord. I am surprised that 
you would think of such a thing; I am, in- 
deed.” 

With a laugh he turned away. “So you 
think I am not proof, and you dare not trust 
me.” 

“That is just what I think, and you will 
never be proof till you cease to be human. 


296 


GUTNDINE, 


But I would not have you misunderstand me. 
I have the utmost confidence in your honor. 
I am sure that you would not be guilty of an 
improper action toward any woman, but if we 
would continue pure in heart we must avoid 
excessive sentiment.^' As he turned away 
the old prayer rose to his lips: ''Keep me 
from idolatry.” 


CHAPTER XXV. 


“And while in peace abiding 
Within a sheltered home, 

We feel as sin and evil 
Could never, never come. 

But let the strong temptations rise 
As whirlwinds sweep the sea, 

We find no strength to escape the wreck 
Save, pitying God, in Thee.” 

It has been two years since the hand of 
Judge Kahree and Rose Ruthvon were united 
in marriage. Two years of consecrated 
Christian life in which Judge Kahree has kept 
close to his divine Master. Not till very 
recently has he been tempted and then but 
slightly. Rose being so shy and sensitive and 
holding herself so aloof from him, he does 
not often think of her. 

Poor Rose ! these two years have been sad 
years to her, tied to a man whom she wor- 
ships; who cannot conscientiously call her 
wife ; who has no love to bestow upon her ; 
whose sympathy she dare not seek; whose 
hand she dare not touch. Wherever she goes 
she attracts men with her wondrous beauty 
and culture ; but she coldly turns from all ad- 
vances and silently and .uncomplainingly 


298 


GUTNDINE, 


hoards within her heart that knowledge 
which seems to eat like a canker. Yet she 
did not blame him. He was keeping his part 
of the contract to the letter. He treated her 
with the utmost kindness and provided luxu- 
ries lavishly, which helped to cut her to the 
quick. She accepted them, feeling that she 
was not in the slightest degree necessary to 
his comfort or happiness. ''A mere inter- 
loper,^’ soliloquized she ; ''an intruder on his 
bounty, giving in return for it all, only the 
adoration of my heart, which he knows not of 
nor cares to know.” If Rose had been aware 
that the Judge knew her secret, her humilia- 
tion would have been much greater. 

"How intensely I suffer ! If he would but 
give me his sympathy,” she moaned, "or ever 
in the least degree seem to feel the need of 
me, perhaps I could endure the rest.” 

Her father often drew her to his knee and 
stroked her hair telling her he could not live 
without her, and calling her his dear comfort ; 
now there was no father, no mother, no sister, 
no brother, only this one whom she must 
worship in secret and afar off. She was once 
the pet of society, but she had learned to 
loathe and despise its fawning sycophancy. 
One look of admiration from this man was 
worth more than the adoration of a world. 
She had made up her mind that she could no 
longer endure this life of dependence and had 
decided to go away and seek employment as 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 299 


a teacher, but the dread of turning from and 
leaving forever the man she loved held her 
back from day to day. She was mistaken 
when she thought the Judge did not give her 
his sympathy. He realized that she suffered 
intensely, but what could he do ? He was but 
human and he knew he dare not cross the 
prescribed line. His desire was to be true. 
His conscience was clear in regard to his 
marriage with Rose. His motive was pure 
and he felt that he had done right, but he 
must shun temptation. He did not realize 
that by this act he had placed himself beneath 
a vassalage cruel and relentless ; that a tryant 
was even now binding him with galling 
chains ; that this tyrant, temptation, will hold 
him in an inglorious bondage and scourge 
him with burning lashes. 

One evening as he sat enveloped in a fra- 
grant blue cloud, with a lighted cigar between 
his fingers, and with his American feet on 
the back of a chair in front of him. Rose came 
gliding into his room. He looked up in sur- 
prise for this was something she seldom did. 

''Don’t let me disturb you,” said she, as ne 
made a motion to remove his feet from their 
elevated perch. "I cannot stay, I merely came 
in to say that I am going away forever.” 

Down came his feet and leaning forward 
with an amazed look, he said, "Why, Miss 
Rose, what does this mean ?” 

"It means that I have intruded on your 


300 


GUYNDINE, 


generosity long enough, and I am going out 
to make my own living. I thank you for all 
your kindness, and when I can I will return 
to you in dollars and cents what can be paid 
in that way, but I shall always owe you a 
debt of gratitude.'' 

He placed his cigar on an ivory rack on the 
table. ''Too much smoke in here," said he, 
as he took her by the arm and led her back 
to her room. He placed her in a chair and 
stood before her. "Now tell me what I have 
done to hurt your feelings." 

"Why, Judge," said she, "I beg you not to 
think that; it is to escape your generosity 
that I am going." 

"But you are not going. Have you con- 
sidered that it would create a scandal? Re- 
member we are man and wife in the eyes of 
the world. You are my legal wife; if you 
should disappear and I should die, there 
would be no heir to claim my estate. Besides 
you owe it to your father to remain with me, 
for you know we both promised. I can not 
conscientiously permit you to go if there is 
any way to prevent it, and I think there is 
for I am sure you will listen to reason. If 
you feel that I deserve the least kindness or 
consideration, I am quite sure you would not 
be willing to bring reproach upon me." 

"Oh, no, Judge, it never occurred to me 
that it would bring reproach upon you or my- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 301 


self. I had not considered what the world 
would think or say.’^ 

''Just remember this, Rose, all that I pos- 
sess is yours ; you have a perfect right to it. 
I am thankful I have you to bestow it upon. 
Otherwise I should be obliged to leave it to 
strangers. If you do not wish to give me 
pain, you will never refer to this subject 
again.’’ 

After this he found himself thinking more 
and more about Rose. There was some- 
thing so attractive in her sweet disposition, 
something so pathetic in her isolated life 
and her uncomplaining, unrequited affection, 
that the Judge’s kind heart overflowed with 
pity. And he questioned: "Poor child, I 
wonder if I have done wrong in leaving her 
so entirely to herself? She rarely ever ex- 
changes a word with any one except myself, 
and they are the most commonplace civi- 
lities.” He recalled her father’s prediction 
and smiled as he remembered that the two 
years were up. "He evidently did not know 
how strongly I was fortified by the religion of 
Christ,” thought the Judge. "I think I shall 
not leave Rose so much alone after this; I 
believe it is cruel.” He sat before the fire 
gazing into the coals. Turning half round 
he faced his own image which was reflected 
in a long mirror. He noticed the few silver 


302 


GUYNDINE, 


threads among the dark locks. Smiling, he 
repeated Byron’s lines : 

‘‘Touch us gently, time. 

Tet us glide adown thy stream 

Gently, as we sometimes glide through a quiet 
dream.’’ 

He glanced upward — ''But, oh, from hence- 
forth incline my heart to seek no other love 
but Thine.” As he turned his face from the 
mirror his eyes rested for a moment on the 
following sentence in a paper on the table 
besides him: "A life is valuable in propor- 
tion as it reaches into other lives.” "Ac- 
cording to that,” said he;^ "my life for the past 
two years must have been utterly worthless, 
for outside of business relations I have lived 
very exclusive.” The Judge was in a pen- 
sive mood tonight. Rising, he crossed the 
room and knocked at the door of Rose’s 
room. She opened it and stood holding it 
waiting for him to ask for a late paper or 
tell her he was going out for the evening. 

"May I come in?” 

"Certa^inly.” And a glad light flashed in- 
to her eyes, and a wave of color swept over 
her face as she threw the door open. 

If ever the angels weep, they are weeping 
tonight over this generous, kind hearted, 
well-meaning Christian man, who is about to 
make another mistake. If he could con- 
tinue as he had begun, or if Rose had Guyn- 
dine’s conscience and high sense of honor. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 303 


all might be well even in his present envi- 
ronment. But Rose is altogether a different 
type. As regards virtue she is as chaste as 
Guyndine, and is conscientious as far as she 
knows, but she has had no Christian train- 
ing and never looks within the lids of the 
Bible. All she knows of its teaching is what 
she hears from the pulpit, and she has never 
heard the pulpit refer to the subject of 
divorce. If it is such a crime as the Judge 
seems to think, why do not the pulpits all 
over the land denounce it? It is true she 
once heard it denounced by a Catholic priest, 
but she had been taught that there was noth- 
ing good in their doctrine, so she gave it no 
heed. She could not recall a single instance 
in which she had known of a divorce having 
been secured by Catholics. She decided that 
they were fanatical along that line and that 
it was no crime or the Protestant Church 
Avould not tolerate divorced people in it. 
She believed herself to be the lawful wedded 
wife of Arrel Kahree, for whose affection 
she was starving. Platonic love was all she 
asked; the purer it was, the better. The 
thought of a grosser flame frightened and re- 
pulsed her. If the Judge would fold her in 
his arms and with kisses and soft words tell 
her she was everything to him; hold her as 
a mother would a weary child who at even- 
ing lays its head in her lap and feels that here 
and nowhere else is rest, she would be su- 


304 


GUYNDINE, 


premely happy. She could not understand 
why the Judge could not occasionally take 
her on his lap as her father was wont to do, 
and allow her head to rest on his shoulder. 
'‘It would not be too familiar for we are mar- 
ried,’’ mused she. "Even if he does wish to 
live like brother and sister, I cannot see 
where the harm would be; for brother and 
sister can be as familiar as that. But he 
seems so distant that sometimes I fear he dis- 
likes me.” 

"Rose, my head aches tonight; will you 
read to me awhile?” 

"Certainly, I shall take pleasure in doing 
so. Have you a preference?” 

"Not in particular. What is that you have 
in your hand?” 

"Lucile. It is a favorite with me, but per- 
haps you would prefer prose.” 

"No” said he^ "read from that. I 
read it years ago but I should like to hear it 
again. There is something restful and musi- 
cal in the style which suits my mood tonight.” 

He had never heard her read and knew 
nothing of her literary taste. He threw him- 
self on a couch and she took an easy chair 
beside the table. The room was large, beau- 
tiful, brilliantly lighted, and was full of the 
fragrance of flowers which she always kept 
about her. Rose was a fine reader. Her 
voice was low and musical, her articulation 
and intonation were perfect. Her love of 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 305 

poetry and appreciation of its fine points 
made her reading very artistic and her sym- 
pathy with Lticile put a tremolo into her 
voice which added to its effect. 

The Judge was charmed. He lay with his 
eyes half closed drinking in the exquisite 
poem, made doubly charming by the pathetic 
picture before him. He was surprised when 
the clock struck off the hour of twelve, and 
for the first time he bid her good night with 
regret. He told her he had spent a delight- 
ful evening and that he would come again 
tomorrow evening and hear her finish the 
poem. ''That is, if I may.’’ 

There was the least sound of reproach in 
her voice as she repeated his words : "If I 
may.” He looked back, smiled and closed 
the door. 

Rose was too happy to sleep. She turned 
off the gas, threw aside the curtains and sat 
down in the moonlight. "Dare I hope? 
Oh, trembling heart, over which his slightest 
glance has more control than all my will, 
listen to reason and cease your thrills of ec- 
stasy, lest disappointment follow and crush 
you.” For hours she sat dreaming of what 
might be in store for her, trying to imagine 
what it would be to dare touch his hand or 
kiss his brow. 

On the other side of the partition all was 
silent ; the last spark had died on the hearth, 
but he could not sleep; the fragrance from 


G-20 


?06 


GUYNDINE, 


the room beyond seemed to pervade the air, 
''subtle as some enchanter might evoke, en- 
trancing soul and sense in a spell like that 
which holds us when the thrush's song has 
ceased." After hours of tossing, he fell 
asleep and dreamed that Rose was lost in a 
deep wood. After a long search he found 
her standing beside an open grave. With 
corpse-like face she turned and pointing into 
the grave said: "This is the end of all my 
hopes." He awoke with a start. The sun 
was shining into the room, and the clock 
struck eight. 

As he arranged his toilet about which he 
was always very precise, he thought of Rose's 
artistic taste and dainty style, and for the 
first time he felt a desire to please her. 

When she came out as usual to descend 
with him to breakfast, he gave her an admir- 
ing glance and felt as if a sunbeam had fallen 
across his pathway. After breakfast as he 
was leaving her to go to his office, in the hall 
he turned and looked back at her, just as she, 
half way up the stairs, turned to look at him. 
With a smile and a bow he was gone, but 
there was meaning enough in that look to 
fill her heart with gadness all day. Dur- 
ing office hours he was so occupied that he 
had little time to think of her. But when the 
lamps were lighted and he met her at dinner 
his eyes rested upon her almost fondly. 

As they entered the dining room and pass- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 307 


ed near a table at which several gentlemen 
were seated he heard the words ‘^naiad 
queen at a glance he saw upon whom their 
eyes were resting. ‘‘Yes/' thought he, “never 
was there a more beautiful woman than the 
one whom the world calls my wife." 

After dinner as they ascended to their suite 
of rooms he remarked : “By the way it oc- 
curs to me that I have an engagement with 
a lady for this evening, have I not?" 

“I am not supposed to be posted as to 
your engagements. You may have more than 
one for aught I know." 

“Only one for this evening," said he. As 
they entered her boudoir he thought : 
“What an air of sweet restfulness lingers 
about Rose and all she possesses ; the calm- 
ness of her nature seems to pervade the atr 
she breathes." 

There was an open grate, easy chairs, 
lounges with soft pillows, pictures and stat- 
uettes, a book-case filled with choice books, 
and on the table the latest magazines and 
papers. He took an easy chair quite near 
her as she seated herself by the table, and 
placing his feet on an ottoman, prepared to 
enjoy to its fullest the continuation of the 
poem. He sat studying her face as she read, 
watching the fine play of soul as it quivered 
about the expressive mouth and shone in the 
luster of her eye. She read till the clock 


308 


GUYNDINE, 


Struck ten when he noticed she was slightly 
hoarse. 

'‘I enjoy this exceedingly/’ said he, “but I 
cannot permit you to tax yourself further this 
evening.” Gently he drew the book from her 
and placing a card in it to mark the place, 
said: “The English and Scotch writers are 
certainly holding the attention of the literary 
world of today in a pre-eminent degree.” 

“Yes, but I have thought — perhaps I ima- 
gine it — that I noticed rather a decline of 
ability among American writers of fiction. 
1 hope it is only my imagination.” 

“I fear it isn’t,” said he, I have heard it 
commented on quite a little ; but it is gener- 
ally conceded to be owing to lack of enthu- 
siasm rather than lack of ability. There 
must necessarily be a predominance of enthu- 
siasm in all creative work.” 

“It is undoubtedly yeast in the batter,” 
said she, “and without it even art is a dead 
letter. Perhaps the brilliant successes of the 
English and Scotch will tend to spur our 
people up to greater effort, for one of the 
direst curses of the age is the flood of light 
literature, that is being tossed off from the 
finger tips of brainless men and women, 
which is filling the world with superstition.” 

“Not only superstition,” said he, “but also 
agnosticism. I believe that the very best 
incentive to enthusiasm is an unpopular 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 309 


theme and a pure purpose. If his object is 
to bless the world, the author will soon be- 
come enthused ; ay, inspired.'' 

After they had discussed various subjects, 
the Judge touched upon religion. Rose at 
once became silent, and her face showed the 
subject was distasteful to her. He dropped 
it, and as it was growing late, he again re- 
luctantly bid her good night. 

After this, every evening was spent with 
Rose. Four months went by and one morn- 
ing he awoke to a realization of the fact that 
he was in love with her. “Ah, Ruthvon! af- 
ter all you knew me better than I knew my- 
self. You were wise and I foolish." He 
thought of his pure and peerless Guyndine. 
Had he ceased to love her? No, but she 
was dead to him and his heart was hungry 
and his life empty and lonely. He thought of 
the principle he had been advocating, and of 
the words of his divine Master regarding it. 
Looking into his heart he felt that he loved 
God and his desire to be true was as strong 
this morning as it had ever been. He had no 
desire to yield, no thought of yielding. He 
lealized that great temptations would hence- 
forth surround him. Kneeling he prayed 
fervently that God would give him strength 
to withstand the tempter. If he . would 
apply some of his fine reasoning to his own 
life just now he would see that God helps 
those to resist temptation who help to keep 


310 


GUYNDINE, 


themselves out of it. The Holy Spirit had 
not been spending the evening with him of 
late as He did not accompany him to Rose’s 
apartments. Whenever a Christian deliber- 
ately walks into temptation, it is useless to 
pray for deliverance. The experiment of 
clasping hands with God and Satan both at 
the same time has been frequently tried but 
it has never succeeded. 

At last the Judge was forcibly impressed 
with the fact that he had made a mistake, and 
in spite of his good resolutions he trembled 
for the result. But he meant to get near to 
God and strive harder than ever to be true. 

The situation of Rose was certainly unique. 
She was conscious that the crisis was near 
and with bated breath she read his thoughts 
and watched his struggle. Her feeling was 
intense. The door of hope stands open; 
what if he should yet close it in her face and 
'‘bid that mighty chord of sweet music which 
is sounding in her soul to cease, forever 
blotting out the stars from the depths of twi- 
light skies.” Could she endure it? No, no! 
she felt that she could not. What wonder, 
then, that under such incentive, she should 
strive with every power she possessed to 
draw and hold him. Yet she was as delicate 
with him as a girl of sixteen with her first 
lover. She made no advances, but her ef- 
forts were subtle and effective. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 


It was a balmy evening in spring time. The 
Judge was out of the city on a business trip. 
He was to return on one of the night trains. 
Rose felt nervous and could not sleep till he 
was safe in his room. At ten o’clock she 
turned the gas off and sat down by the open 
window in the moonlight to watch for his 
coming. 

It was almost as light as day but there was 
a storm brewing. The air was so still that it 
did not stir the gentlest leaf. Her mind was 
full of pleasant memories of him. He had not 
committed himself by one word of love, but 
she had read his secret in his face many times 
as he had long ago read hers, and like honey 
dripping from the honeycomb upon a fevered 
sore, these thoughts fell upon her burning 
heart soothingly. The clock struck eleven. 
What if something should happen to 
him and he should be snatched from 
her by death ; accidents were occur- 
ring daily everywhere. She could not 


GUYNDINE, 


m 

endure the thought. She would com- 
mit suicide if he were taken from her. 
Yes, she could not live without him. She 
rose and began to walk the floor. But hark ! 
She heard a step, and stopped to listen; it 
passed on and the clock struck twelve. By 
this time she had worked herself almost into 
a frenzy and was softly crying and moaning. 
Suddenly she stopped and, going to her 
dressing-room, washed her tear-stained face. 

^'This is foolish and all imaginary ; I am not 
myself tonight. I feel nervous and unstrung 
as I did the day papa died.’’ She returned to 
the window and, leaning out, listened. Ere 
long she heard a step which she recognized. 
'‘My sovereign, my idol,” murmured she, “it 
is he. Can he retire without coming in a 
moment after having been away a day and a 
night?” Her question was answered by a 
soft rap at her door. “Bless him; I knew it.” 

She hastened to open the door. Moved by 
a sudden impulse he put his arm about her 
and drew her to him for a moment. Sudden- 
ly he let his arm fall away from her. “I 
thought you had not retired and I wanted to 
know if you were well.” 

“Thank you, I am very well. I will light 
the gas ; I have been sitting in the moon- 
light.” 

“Don’t please ; let the gas go. I prefer the 
moonlight. I cannot stay long for it is late.” 
Taking her by the arpi he crossed the room 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 313 


to the large moonlight window. Sitting down 
upon the broad window sill, he drew her down 
beside him. '‘Of what has my little wi — , sis- 
ter been thinking here in the deep night time 
alone He knew well enough who filled her 
thoughts day and night. 

“I was thinking of Richelieu.'' 

"Of Richelieu ?" said he in surprise. “What 
Richelieu? Not the Cardinal?" 

"Yes, Armand Jean du Plessis Cardinal 
Due de Richelieu, who for eighteen years 
held the Kingdom of France between his 
thumb and finger." 

"And what were you thinking about him, 
may I ask ?" 

"I was admiring his stern personality." 

"I .was not aware that you were partial to 
stern personalities." 

"Yes, that is the woman of it. It is char- 
acteristic of the sex to dislike the weak and 
vacillating. I admire even that fiend which all 
mankind are taught to hate because he is un- 
daunted, unterrified, obdurate." 

"Not Satan?" 

"Yes, even Satan has one trait we may 
emulate." 

The Judge laughed. "I shall have to give 
you credit for a new idea, and rather peculiar 
taste. Satan and the fierce, bold Richelieu 
who trod down all human rights." 

"Yes, I know; but he was conscientious in 
it. You remember with his last breath he 


314 


GUYNDINE, 


called on God to witness that he meant it all 
for the good of religion and the state. He 
was cruelly misjudged and wronged; it is 
not much wonder that he became a cynic and 
forgot the meaning of the word mercy.” 

'‘His zeal was misdirected,” said the Judge. 
“It was all for self, and it brought him only 
bitter hatred.” 

“His was an intensely loyal nature, and he 
was a lion in purpose,” said Rose. “He once 
said : 'When I have made up my mind I go 
straight to the point. I mow down every 
thing that stands in my way and cover it all 
up with my red cassock.’ Is not this the spir« 
it of a hero?” 

“No,” said the Judge, absent mindedly. 

“Then how do you define a heroic spirit?” 

“By one word — Love.” The Judge fell in- 
to a brown study and sat looking into the 
quiet street. 

Rose felt nervous and feverish. She scarce- 
ly knew what she had been saying. She knew 
perfectly well that he was again battling with 
temptation ; that a storm was surging 
through his soul. How quickly would Guyn- 
dine have come to the rescue, have taken him 
by the hand and helped him to repress ig- 
noble impulses and call up the finest and pur- 
est feelings of his nature. If Rose had been 
wise this would have been her opportunity 
to mount to a place beside Guyndine in his 
heart; to step upon the pedestal of a queen 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 315 


in his esteem, and surround herself with that 
atmosphere of purity through which Guyn- 
dine had won his adoration. 

A low muttering sound came rolling 
through the quiet air. ''Is that thunder?’’ in- 
quired Rose. 

"Yes, there is a black cloud rising out of 
the west.” Thy sat on the window sill fac- 
ing each other. The moon shone full upon 
them. Language cannot express the twofold 
thoughts that were sweeping through the 
Judge’s mind at that moment. It has little 
to do with language but everything to do 
with feeling. Not a breath stirred, but ever 
and anon the low sullen voice of the ap- 
proaching storm was heard. Suddenly the 
Judge rose and with a prayer to heaven at- 
tempted to throw off the temptation. 

"Good night. Rose. It is time you were 
asleep and I am keeping you up.” 

"O no, you are not,” said she in a coaxing 
voice. "I cannot sleep when a storm is com- 
ing. It always makes me lonely and nervous. 
Please do not go.” 

The Judge thought of Guyndine and what 
a different effect the storm had upon her. He 
turned again to the window and stood look- 
ing out. She sat on the window sill close be- 
side him; the beautiful head with its wealth 
of golden hair was so close to him that he 
could feel its touch against his arm. Pie 
looked down into the lovely face. A sudden 


GUYNDINE, 


Si 6 

flash of lightning and heavy peal of thunder 
made her creep closer to him and the sap- 
phire eyes were full of fear as they glanced 
up pleadingly into his. It belonged to his 
great tender nature to want to throw his 
strong arms about whatever was weak and 
needed protection, and now he could scarcely 
restrain himself for he knew she was suffer- 
ing with fright, and he loved her. Again he 
thought of Guyndine, of her pure life, her he- 
roic Christian character and the ennobling 
influence she had exerted over him, and he 
determined not to yield. 

'‘It seems strange,'' said Rose, "passing 
strange that I should fear the storm, or fear 
death in any form after the life that I have 
lived for the past two years. All who loved 
me have been taken away, and I am left deso- 
late ; and not only that but I am forced to 
live on charity. Doesn't it seem strange that 
] should care to live? Or have you never 
given it a thought ?" 

"I presume that I have thought more 
about it than you have guessed; and. Rose, 
this sham marriage of ours has been a mis- 
take." 

"Has it?" said she, "and you feel it has 
been a mistake? I have disappointed you, I 
have not been the sweet companion you ex- 
pected, the dear sister you so much needed." 

"Oh, not that. Rose, not that." 

The deep hush of the hour, the approach- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 317 


ing storm, the calm moon lighting up the 
beautiful upturned face with its clear, plead- 
ing eyes and pitiful quivering lips, the voice 
in which he could detect a sob, and the fiery 
tempter surging through every vein, all con- 
spired to unman him. How innocent she 
looked. She was innocent and he felt it. She 
had no conscientious scruples along this line. 
She was simply trying to overcome what she 
believed to be his foolish prejudice, and lead 
him to acknowledge that he loved her. There 
was no impure thought or wish in her heart. 
She did not realize that if she succeeded she 
would become a weight that would sink him 
to perdition. 

Another sharp flash and sudden peal of 
thunder. She caught his hand in both of 
hers, and holding it tight, pressed it over her 
eyes as if to shut out the blinding flash. It 
needed but the touch of those soft fingers to 
turn the scales ; instantly he caught her in his 
arms, and pressed passionate kisses to her 
lips and brow. '‘The struggle is over, and 
you have won. Rose, darling, you are not left 
desolate. I love you, I love you.^’ 

A blinding flash, a deafening crash, and all 
was dark for many days. When the Judge 
recovered consciousness he was in a strange 
place, a calm-faced sister of charity sat be- 
side his bed. 

“Where am I?’’ he inquired, “and what has 
happened?’’ 


818 


GUYNDINJ-::, 


''You are in St. Joseph’s Hospital,” replied 
the nurse. "You have been very ill and the 
doctor’s orders are that you are not to talk. 
It is time for your medicine.” 

After taking it he fell asleep. The next 
day the same thing occurred, and the next. 
By this time he felt so much better that he re- 
fused to be longer trifled with, and insisted 
upon knowing the full particulars of how he 
came there. Cautiously and very gently 
the nurse told him that during a severe storm 
he had received an electric shock. 

"Ah, yes !” He now remembered the last 
scene. "But where is Rose? Where is my 
wife ?” 

Hesitating and turning her face away, she 
answered: "She, too, was injured.” He 
watched her narrowly. "Is my wife dead?” 

The nurse hastened to him with the nar- 
cotic. "Take this and rest awhile before you 
talk more.” 

"Tell me ! tell me ! is my wife dead ? I 
know she is ; I read it in your face.” He was 
pale as death. 

"She died in your arms. Now take your 
medicine quick, and go to sleep before you 
make yourself worse.” 

Again he slept for several hours. When he 
awoke he was so dizzy with the horror of it 
all that it was many days before he could 
realize it, and many more before he could 
bring himself to look upon it with any degree 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 310 


of resignation. When he did, self-reproach 
and remorse filled his heart, and from lips 
white and quivering with his crushing sorrow, 
-came the words : ‘‘Verily, ‘As ye sow, so shall 
ye also reap.’ ” If in my youth I had heeded 
the teachings of Christ: ‘Seek ye first the 
Kingdom of heaven and all these things shall 
be added unto you,’ I would not today be a 
wanderer from love and home, with no one to 
enter into all I feel. But I cannot bear this 
load alone. Oh, Man of Sorrows, hear me! 
Thou alone canst pity. I have been vacilla- 
ting and untrue ; a prodigal son, I now return 
to Thee. Thou Son of God, infinite in grace, 
pity and forgive. Thou alone canst satisfy the 
soul ; and they who walk with Thee from day 
to day shall never be left comfortless. But 
how shall I answer for Rose ; I, who have had 
her under my influence all these months and 
have done little or nothing to save her. Oh ! 
bitter, bitter remorse ! Poor little Rose I 
where are you today? I dare not think of 
it.” 

He lay back with a groan, the whiteness of 
death and the agony of conscious condemna- 
tion on his face. A few hours later his mind 
was found to be wandering. Soon it became 
necessary to remove him to a mad house, 
w^here he was kept for many months. He 
left it a physical wreck but he came up out of 
his baptism of affliction a new man spiritual- 
ly. He had sought and found a state of grace 


320 


GUYNDINE, 


in a higher life in which his heart was not in- 
clined to any evil thing. Never before had he 
reached the point where he could place his 
fragrant Havana upon the altar of sacrifice. 

A year went by, he was again in the hospi- 
tal. The kind-faced sister sat beside his bed. 

'‘Sister Delia, will you kindly place another 
pillow under my head and give me writing 
material?^' She complied with his request. 
"Now please address this envelope to Hon. 
Edgar Grannell, St. Louis, Missouri, U. S. A. 
When I am dead place the letters which I 
shall write in the envelope and post it.’’ He 
wrote as follows : "Hon. Edgar Grannell, 
St. Louis, Mo. Dear old friend : I am dying 
and Guyndine is yours at last. Good bye, 
and God bless you.” 

On the same sheet he wrote : "Guyndine, 
my lost darling: My hand is now perform- 
ing its last* act. I have been unworthy, but 
when you read this I shall be standing with 
the redeemed inside the pearly gates, where 
I shall wait for her who, by her Godly life, 
showed me the cross of Christ; who had the 
courage of her convictions and feared noth- 
ing so much as sin. But I must go. Good 
bye. Arrel.” 

These letters were miscarried and delayed 
and it was many months before they were put 
into the hands of those for whom they were 
intended. - 


CHAPTER XXVII. 


“Beauty, my lord; ’tis the worst part of women: 
A weak, poor thing assaulted every hour 
By creeping minutes of defacing time.” 

Edgar Grannell was in the prime if his 
manhood. It was a mystery to society why 
he remained a bachelor and was so exclusive. 
It was whispered that he had loved and lost, 
that his heart was buried beneath the sod; 
and more than one woman had tried to resur- 
rect it. He was considered a great catch but 
the thing was to catch him. 

The wealthy Mrs. Craven, who was a friend 
cf his, had a niece, a beautiful young widow, 
who was coming to visit her from Cincinna- 
ti. ''Now, Mr. Grannell,’’ said Mrs. Craven, 
^'I am going to ask as a favor that you will 
help me make it pleasant for Ruby while 
she is here.” 

"Certainly, Mrs. Craven, I shall take pleas- 
ure in doing all I can.” 

"You will find her very sweet, and if you 
are not careful she may prove too much for 
that impervious heart of yours. I have fore- 
armed you now,” said she, laughing, "and if 


G~21 


522 


GUYNDINE, 


you are vanquished I shall have nothing to 
answer for/' 

‘‘My heart is not so impervious as you 
imagine. I have a weakness for women which 
sometimes almost gets the upper hand of 
me." 

“Well, you have a queer way of demon- 
strating it, I must say. Why, you live as se- 
cluded as a monk. I do not believe you have 
exchanged a dozen words with a marriagable 
woman for five years." 

“Ah you are not posted, that is evident." 
returned he, laughing. 

“Well, good bye. I expect Ruby tomorrow 
and I shall expect you to keep your promise 
to the letter." 

It was nearly a week before he again 
thought of his promise. “Really I had for- 
gotten that. I must go at once or Mrs. 
Craven will never forgive me." He went to 
his dressing-room and with a few extra 
touches to his toilet, took his hat and started 
to Mrs. Craven's. In the hall he looked at 
his watch; it was half past eight. “I must 
look in at Guyndine a moment and tell her 
where I am going." He stopped at Mrs. 
Danks’, and looking back longingly as he 
left Guyndine, he wished he could remain 
with her. 

Mr. Grannell was not expecting to meet 
such a vision of loveliness as burst on his 
sight when he was ushered into the Craven 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 323 


drawing-room and presented to Mrs. Ruby 
Williams. She was undoubtedly one of the 
handsomest women he had ever met. Tall 
and willowy with luminous black eyes and 
black hair. Her complection was a 
mixture of snow and roses. A soft 
rippling voice, rosy lips, small pear- 
ly teeth, and breath as sweet as the 
morning breeze. She was bright, sparkling, 
and self-possessed, which showed her famili- 
arity with cultured society. She was a wom- 
an whom few men could resist and had the 
interior of the casket been as beautiful and 
immaculate as the exterior, she would have 
been an angel of light. She was selfish, in- 
sincere and loved flattery, consequently she 
was a born flirt. At twenty she had married 
a man thirty-five years her senior for his 
money. They lived together two years, when 
he failed in business and died leaving her little 
but his name. She returned to her father’s 
house and had been a widow two years when 
her aunt conceived the idea of inviting her to 
visit St. Louis with the view of capturing the 
Hon. Edgar Grannell. 

Mrs. Craven watched him narrowly as he 
was presented to Ruby. She noted his look 
of surprised admiration and smilingly said to 
herself : “She will bring you to time, sir.” 

“Mr. Grannell,” said Ruby, “I have been 
waiting with great impatience to meet you. 
Aunty tells me that you are a confirmed re- 


324 


GUTNDINE, 


cluse ; as I have never seen a real live her- 
mit, I have had a wonderful curiosity to see 
you/' 

^^Indeed? And what is there about a her- 
mit so intensely interesting?" 

''Oh, one always associates a hermit with a 
delightful little romance, a broken heart and 
all that you know." 

"Am I to understand," said he smiling, 
"that you look upon broken hearts as delight- 
ful and amusing?" 

"Well, it depends somewhat upon whose 
heart it is. If it were my own perhaps it 
would not be so amusing." 

His face grew serious. " 'Ah, how idly we 
speak of that sacred mysterious fountain of 
sorrow and sympathy which, when true, will 
burn to ashes rather than express its pain, 
lest it be lightly held.' " 

"I wonder," thought she, "if those words 
express his experience ; it would be a wonder 
if he were heart whole at his age." 

As if he had read her thoughts Mr. Gran- 
nell continued: "But, Mrs. Williams, I can 
assure you that although my heart may have 
been pierced and scorched and riven it is 
all in one piece today." 

"Ah !" thought she, "he knows what it is 
to have suffered, but it is over and the wound 
no longer bleeds. A most interesting sub- 
ject, and one easy to understand and manage. 
He imagines his heart calloused ; but the 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 325 


truth is, it is tenderer and more susceptible 
than if it had never been touched.'’ She 
smiled softly to herself as she rememberd the 
fate of scores of other subjects, and in imag- 
mation saw this one floundering in the 
"'slough of despond,” waiting to be lifted out 
by her own fair hand. It made little differ- 
ence to her whether he was free or not, she 
meant to capture him and she had not yet 
learned the meaning of the word fail. She 
knew before the evening was over that he 
was her ideal, and, what amounted to much 
more in her estimation, he had wealth and 
position. She had never loved anything but 
herself, but she felt now that her fate was 
sealed for he was irresistible. She was a close 
observer and a good actress ; she saw at a 
glance that to succeed, there would be called 
into requisition the best that was in her. Her 
aunt had told her of his high Christian char- 
acter. She had never undertaken the role of 
saint but she felt confident that with a little 
practice she could manage it. 

""Ah, yes !” said she with a sad intonation 
of voice and downcast eyes, ""I am not old 
and my merry heart once laughed at sorrow, 
but I have learned, even in my short life, how 
the heart can build its hopes, and, like the 
gorgeous morning sun, rising from behind 
this clod of earth and shining resplendent for 
a while, may be darkened in an hour. Mr. 


32b* 


GUYNDINE, 


Grannell my young heart has ashes 'upon it.'* 

His sympathy was touched. ''How pathetic, 
so young and lovely,'' thought he. "My first 
impression was that she was a belle of fash- 
ion, giddy and thoughtless. I was too hasty 
in my judgment." He at once recommended 
the help of the great Burden Bearer, and 
learned that Ruby was not a Christian, but 
that in her sorrow she had felt the need of 
strength other than her own. He was deeply 
interested and determined to spare no pains 
to help her to forget her grief and enjoy her 
visit, and he hoped to be able to lead her to 
Christ. He enjoyed the evening immensely 
and it was late when he arose to go. 

As he was about bidding the ladies good 
night, Mr. Craven came in. "Good evening, 
Mr. Grannell, I am glad I arrived in time to 
see you. I have a favor to ask of you." 

"I shall be most happy to do any thing I 
can for you, sir. What is it ?" 

"I have secured tickets for the musicale to- 
morrow evening and I find it will be impos- 
sible to attend. I wish you would take my 
ticket and accompany these ladies. Can you 
doit?" 

"Certainly," said Mr. Grannell, "and I will 
with pleasure." 

"Thank you, that is quite a load off my 
mind. One woman is a great care, two is a 
double load. I don't see how those fellows in 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 327 


Utah manage them in droves. I had rather 
undertake to manage a herd of mustangs.’^ 

Mr. Grannell smilingly bowed himself out, 
and Ruby's musical laugh rippled out with 
him. 

“Well, Ruby, how do you like him?" said 
Mrs. Craven after her husband had retired 
and they were alone. 

“Oh, aunty ! he is a king among men. I am 
conquered already, but I tremble for myself 
for I am sure that no ordinary woman can 
touch his heart." 

“I agree with you," said Mrs. Craven ; “but 
you are no ordinary woman. I know him 
well. I watched him closely ; I read him ; and 
I know that you have made a good beginning 
and a wonderful impression. Beauty's bait 
is the one thing that men cannot resist, mar- 
ried and single, young and old, priest and 
layman. If they approach too near and al- 
low themselves to gaze, alike they all turn 
away dazzled and drunk; and three-fourths 
of them will let go of even their God to clasp 
it and go down to perdition with it. Its 
power is as subtle and invincible today as it 
was the day it overcame the strength of 
Sampson." 

“Well, my heart is already in thraldom, 
and I dare not fail. This is the first time I 
ever cared whether I failed or not." 

The next evening on his way to attend 
the ladies to the opera he called at Mrs. 


328 


GUYNDINE, 


Danks’ to tell Guyndine why he could not be 
with her that evening as usual, and to ex- 
press regret that he was obliged to cancel 
his engagement. Between his business and 
Guyndine’s pupils they scarcely ever met dur- 
ing the day. Both looked forward with pleas- 
urable anticipation to their evenings togeth- 
er. 

Guyndine felt somewhat disappointed, but 
she excused him cheerfully and wished him 
a pleasant evening ; but when in the course of 
the conversation he remarked that Mrs. Wil- 
liams was one of the most beautiful and at- 
tractive women he had ever met, a little throb 
of pain shot through her heart. Looking into 
his honest face and clear dark eyes she 
thought : ''It would be hard to give him up, 
but his love came to me without any effort 
on my part, and if he should seek one who 
can give him closer companionship than I can 
offer, I must not murmur; but, oh, it would 
mean something terrible to me. I had not 
thought that such a thing could occur.'' An 
evil spirit seemed to whisper : "This is what 
you get for being an extremist. Why did you 
refuse him when you thought him dying ? 
You had a good excuse then. Even the Lord 
would have forgiven you." 

"Do not let a thought of me mar your 
pleasure." said she, as he again expressed re- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 329 


gret at leaving her. “I will read and practice 
and try not to miss you.’’ 

He had made repeated efforts to have her 
go out with him, but she always refused. “It 
would be bad taste, Edgar. It would excite 
curiosity and end in uncomplimentary com- 
ment. A woman in my circumstances should 
live as secluded as a nun and the outside 
world holds no attraction for me.” 

As the distinguished Hon. Edgar Grannell 
seated Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Craven in the 
opera house and took his seat beside them, 
many a glass was leveled at them, and there 
v/ere many inquiries as to who the superb 
creature beside him was. thought,” said 
one lady, ''that Mr. Grannell’s heart had long 
since turned to adamant. I wonder if this 
fair one has undertaken to soften so impene- 
trable a substance?” 

"Madam,” said Col. Jones, who had been 
married three times within three years, who 
had never buried a wife, and who 
was angry because Mrs. Jones insisted 
on coming to the opera tonight, "Ed- 
gar Grannell shows that he has common 
sense; common sense, madam, of which the 
majority of us men cannot boast. His life 
shows conclusively that his head is level. 
While some of us simpletons have been chas- 
ing after an apron-string, he has been stead- 
ily climbing the political ladder.” The lady 
gave him a withering glance and, as she con- 


330 


GUYNDINE, 


sidered him too contemptible to reply to, 
she turned her back on him. 

The musicale was a success and another 
evening sped pleasantly away. The next 
evening there was a dinner party to which 
Mr. Grannell, the Cravens, and some other 
distinguished guests were invited. The fourth 
evening there was a lecture, and Mr. Craven 
again requested Mr. Grannell to take his 
place and attend the ladies, and so it went. 
Two months passed and he and Guyndine 
had met only occasionally and then but for 
a few minutes. He always had a plausible 
excuse and seemed to regret that it so hap- 
pened he could not see more of her. She was. 
so occupied through the day that she had lit- 
tle time to think and at night she was so 
tired that she slept soundly in spite of the 
feeling of unrest which filled her bosom. 

One morning as she was giving one of her 
pupils a music lesson, the girl suddenly 
turned : '‘Mrs. Kahree, did you ever see Mrs. 
Ruby Williams, who is visiting Mrs. Crav- 
en r 

"No,’' said Guyndine, "I never saw her.” 

"Well, you just ought to see her. She is 
the most beautiful woman I ever saw. The 
men are all wild about her. But she has 
already caught the one she wants, they say 
she is engaged to the Hon. Edgar Grannell. 
Mamma says that he has not gone in society 
nor paid any attention to a lady for years, 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 331 


although he could have had his choice of any 
of them. But he is perfectly devoted to her.’’ 

For a moment Guyndine almost lost con- 
sciousness. Without noticing it, the girl 
turned to the piano, and with difficulty Guyn- 
dine succeeded in collecting her scattered 
senses sufficiently to finish the lesson. She 
was glad when her day’s work was done, and 
she found herself in the seclusion of her own 
room. ''Who would have thought that it 
could end in this way?” said she to herself. 
"1 never dreampt of such a thing.” Her 
face was white and pinched. "And I am bound 
by servile chains which I have no strength 
to break. By leading my affections into an 
unnatural channel once, I did violence to the 
delicate intuitive sense which, if left to itself, 
would have guided me right. The effects of 
that mistake will follow me through life. I 
must bear it, for I am powerless to evade the 
consequences ; and I must endure the shame 
of knowing that I am in love with the be- 
trothed husband of another woman.” 

The next day was Sunday. In the after- 
noon Mr. Grannell called on Guyndine. She 
thought she noticed a little restraint in his 
manner as he advanced to meet her and ex- 
tended his hand. She was provoked at her- 
self when she felt the telltale blood steal into 
her face as his hand closed over hers. "How 
strange it seems,” said he, "that we have seen 
so little of each other for the past two 


332 


GUYNDINE, 


months. I have called here repeatedly 
through the day, but you were always out; 
and in the evening it has seemed impossible 
for me to get off from other engagements. 
1 have put in a wonderful busy winter and 
yet I have seemed to accomplish little.’' 

‘'You have enjoyed it, have you not?” said 
she inquiringly. 

“Yes, somewhat; but you know a quiet life 
suits me better.” 

He was in perfect health, faultlessly 
dressed, and never looked handsomer. Her 
heart throbbed with pain at the thought that 
he was drifting from her forever. Next to 
Christ’s love, the one green spot in the cold 
bleak desert of her life was the knowledge of 
this man’s affection. Secure in his love, she 
would have been satisfied to go on as they 
had been living, earning her daily bread ; even 
to the end of time. 

It was a warm February day. They ex- 
changed a few commonplace remarks and sat 
down by a large square window with the sash 
up. They sat facing each other, each with an 
arm resting upon the window sill. Both were 
quiet and abstracted ; evidently there was 
something weighing on their minds. Guyn- 
dine felt that he had come to tell her of his 
bethrothal and she thought it would crush 
her to hear it. “Merciful heaven, I can never 
throttle my love for this man !” Cold beads 
of perspiration stood on her forehead; her 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 333 


heavy eyelids refused to lift themselves ; her 
heart beat wildly, and her hands were cold 
and clammy. Suddenly he leaned forward and 
placing his hand over hers, looked into her 
face pityingly. '‘He is going to tell me. God 
in Heaven, help me to live through it and not 
let him see that it hurts me.’’ 

Just then the Craven carriage passed and 
looking up they met the gaze of Mrs. Craven 
and Ruby Williams who recognized him and 
bowed. He instantly withdrew his hand from 
hers, flushed slightly and bowed in return. 

"The one on this side is Mrs. Ruby Wil- 
liams,” said he. "Isn’t she superb?” 

"She is very beautiful indeed,” said Guyn> 
dine in a faint voice. 

As the occupants drove on, they com- 
mented on the scene in the window and won- 
dered who Guyndine could be. At the bare 
possibility of a rival. Ruby could not sup- 
press a sigh. 

Whatever it was that Mr. Grannell had in- 
tended to say to Guyndine, it was left un- 
said. After a long silence he remarked: "I 
can say with Lowell : T am conscious that I 
live two lives ; the one trivial and ordinary, 
the other sacred and recluse ; one which I car- 
ry into society, politics and daily work, which 
makes the body grow old and dies with it ; 
the other that which is made up of the few 
inspiring moments of my higher aspiration 
and attainments, in which youth survives and 


334 


GUYNDINE, 


my dreams are full of an unquenchable long- 
ing for something nobler than success/ ’’ 

‘'The horizon’s line joins the earth and 
sky,” said she. “Our natures are strangely 
complex. I find with myself it is a continual 
warfare to prevent the dross of earth from 
covering the pure gold. All day a verse of an 
old hymn is ringing in my ears : 

‘Must I be carried to the skies 
On flowery beds of ease? 

While others flght to win the prize 
And sail through bloody seas? ’ 

No, I cannot expect it. Life is onward, 
and only by a struggle can we make it up- 
ward. Young says: ‘Earth’s highest station 
ends in — Here he lies — And dust to dust con- 
cludes her noblest song.’ But, Edgar, earth 
has yet a nobler song and if we make her 
feel the power of higher example, she will not 
fail to sing it. Whatever else we do, let us be 
true to God.” 

“That is my highest ambition.” said he. 

“Somehow,” said she, “I have a presenti- 
ment that your life’s pathway from henceforth 
may be surrounded by temptations such as 
may have a tendency to drag you backward. 
Edgar, excuse me, but are you sure you are 
so fell fortified that you will not fall by the 
wayside ?” 

There was a peculiar expression on his face 
as he gave her a quick glance. He sat reflect- 
ing and did not reply for some minutes. At 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 335 


length he said: ''No, I am not sure. I was 
once very certain, but I have learned by ex- 
perience not to be too confident.’’ 

"Edgar, once more I beg pardon, but do 
not, I implore you, risk stepping into the fire 
of temptation until you are sure.” 

Again he flashed her a searching glance, 
but made no reply. Guyn^ine realized what 
a hazardous experiment it would be for a 
consecrated Christian man to marry a frivi- 
lous society woman. The thought of sur- 
rendering him into such hands was extremest 
torture. She felt that she could give him up 
and live through it, but to see him fall, oh, to 
see him fall ! could she endure that ? There 
was a lump in her throat which seemed to 
smother her. "He had better have died,” 
thought she, "than to have come to this.” 
God alone knows what was passing through 
bis mind but he drew a long sigh. 

They sat silent till the shadows grew so 
thick in the room that they could scarcely 
see each others’ fates. Again he placed his 
hand over hers, and the horrible thought 
came: "He is going to tell me now and I 
cannot endure it.” She rose. "It is quite 
dark, I must light the gas.” As she lit it, 
he looked at his watch. "It is half past six,” 
said he. "They are waiting dinner at home at 
this moment. I am afraid Aunt Rich has al- 
ready lost her religion ; it is a great strain on 
it to wait meals.” But he seemd loath to go. 


336 


GUYNDINE, 


Guyndine thought she knew why. He had 
come to say something which he had not 
the courage to say, yet he dreaded to go till 
he had said it. He took a turn or two through 
the room, stopped before the miror and stood 
looking into it in an absent-minded way. As 
he stood there he caught a glimpse of an ex- 
pression on Guyndine’s face — who sat behind 
him looking straight at him — which made him 
suddenly turn to look at her. But when he 
turned she was looking into the street. ‘'Good 
night,'' said he, and was gone. 

The tableau which Ruby Williams saw at 
the window of Mrs. Banks' boarding house 
exasperated her. She soon signified that 
she was tired and suggested that they go 
home. Arriving there, she went directly to 
her room and spent the remainder of the 
evening courting the green-eyed monster till 
she was utterly miserable. “He has no sister 
I am sure, and who could that be. I cannot 
bear to think that he has an intimate lady 
friend. I think I should be jealous even of his 
mother." 

The next morning, after Mr. Craven had 
left the breakfast room and Ruby and Mrs. 
Craven were alone. Ruby said : “Aunty, what 
do you think about what we saw yesterday 
at that window ?" 

“I think you are foolish to give it a 
thought. I can assure you that he is too 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 337 

honorable to trifle with any woman's affec- 
tions, so you need not fear." 

“Is there any way by which we may learn 
who the lady is ?" asked Ruby. 

“Yes, I think there is. That was Mrs. 
Banks' boarding house. The girl who does 
my plain sewing and will be here this morn- 
ing, sews also for Mrs. Banks. I can ask 
her about it." 

While they were talking the girl in question 
passed through the servants' hall and up the 
back stairs. Mrs. Craven rose and followed 
her. In the course of a half hour she sought 
Ruby whom she found in her own room look- 
ing very disconsolate. 

“Well," said Mrs. Craven going at once to 
the subject, “she is a teacher of French and 
music, and is a widow. Mrs. Banks told the 
girl that she was once very wealthy and held 
a high position in society." 

“A widow ?" inquired Ruby. 

“Yes, a widow." 

“Well, that does not explain what I want 
to know. I am as much in the dark as ever ; 
but I will ask him about it." 

“Be careful, child, and whatever you do, 
do not let him have a glimpse of your temper 
or the game is up." 

“Well, I must know for I never could en- 
dure suspense. He is to drive me to Forest 


G— 22 


338 


GUYNDINE, 


Park this evening and I shall improve the op- 
portunity/' 

Ruby waited with feverish impatience for 
the evening, and drew a sigh of relief, when 
the carriage drove up and a servant an- 
nounced, ^'Mr. Grannell." As they passed 
Mrs. Banks' Ruby said: '‘By the way that 
was an interesting picture I saw at that win- 
dow yesterday, the position of the gentle- 
man together with the expression on his face 
was a study for an artist." She laughed 
lightly and glanced into his face which flushed 
painfully. 

"That lady," said he, "is the widow of an 
old and valued friend. We have known each 
other for years, and she holds a high place 
in my esteem." 

"Ah! a widow? How long has she been a 
widow ?" 

"I think it has been about nine years." 
Ruby drew a sigh of relief and for the rest 
of the evening was her own charming self. 

Mr. Grannell's interest in Ruby had stead- 
ily increased in the two months he had been 
associated with her. She was so sweet and 
seemed so artless and kittenish, — few men 
can resist a handsome kitten. She confessed 
her sins so frankly and seemed so very sorry, 
and so desirous of becoming a Christian, 
which she claimed she would have done long 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 339 

ago had she had any training or encourage- 
ment ; but her family were all worldly people 
and she had never been led to think of these 
things. 

. If Ruby had chosen the stage as her pro- 
fession, she would have been a star of the 
first magnitude. 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 


“Whom God hath joined together, let no man 
put asunder.” 

It was the middle of March. The Grannell 
mansion was all aglow with warmth, brilliant 
with gaslight and sweet with the breath of 
flowers. Tonight Harry Spencer, now Judge 
Spencer, one of the most prominent and hon- 
ored men of his state, and sweet Anna Gran- 
nell are to be united in the holy bonds of 
wedlock. 

Only a few intimate friends of the family 
have been invited. The master of this prince- 
ly home receives and welcomes his guests. 
Among the last arrivals are Mr. and Mrs. 
Craven and Mrs. Ruby Williams. All eyes are 
turned upon the queenly Ruby as Mr. Gran- 
nell bowing low over her hand, welcomed 
her to his home, and a whisper went round: 
“There will be another wedding soon and she 
will be the bride.’’ The whisper reached Mrs. 
Craven’s ear, and she smiled approvingly. 

A band had been stationed in the grounds 
near the house. Suddenly there came stealing 
in on the perfumed air the sweet strains of 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 341 


‘‘Annie Laurie.'' Instantly there was a hush 
and all eyes were turned toward the hand- 
some couple who crossed the hall and slowly 
passed down through the spacious parlors, 
and with faces expressive of the solemnity of 
the vow and the responsibility of the step 
which they were about to take. They took 
their stand before the Rev. Willie Dobson 
who, with an impressive ceremony, united 
the twain and they were made one flesh. 

As the bridal party entered the back parlor 
and were slowly coming toward the front, 
Guyndine glided into the front parlor from 
across the hall— where she had been helping 
to put the finishing touches to the bride's toi- 
let — and during the ceremony remained 
standing near the door. The guests assembled 
belonged to the elite of the city, and the thirty 
ladies present seemed to have tried to outdo 
each other in elegant costumes. But there 
was that silent something in the slender wom- 
an who stood near the door whose attrac- 
tiveness did not depend upon elegance of at- 
tire. 

As soon as the ceremony was over and 
congratulations offered, the query, “Who is 
she?" went the rounds, and was answered by 
Mrs. Craven and one or two other ladies who 
were posted. “She is Judge Spencer's sister, 
is an old friend of the Grannell family, was 


342 


GUYNDINE, 


very intimate with Miss Anna’s mother, and 
was with her when she died.” 

Guyndine was dressed in the simplest man- 
ner in a soft gray silk of a shade known at 
that time as ''ashes of roses,” a plain skirt 
with demi-train, open sleeves lined with pale 
pink silk which fell away from the perfect arm 
leaving it bare nearly to the elbow. The 
neck was cut V shape and filled with soft, 
filmly lace. About the slender waist was tied 
a soft pale pink sash which hung in long 
loops nearly to the bottom of her skirt. Her 
luxuriant hair was arranged simply, and the 
jeweled comb and a bunch of pink carnations 
gleamed together amid its folds. 

Dr. Stanley crossed the room to where Mr. 
Grannell was standing: "Who is that lady 
near the door, Mr. Grannell ?” 

"That is my friend, Mrs. Kahree. Come and 
I will present you.” 

"Wait a moment,” said the doctor. "Did 
you ever see that picture of Queen Louise of 
Prussia, painted by Richter?” 

"Yes.” 

"Isn’t she like it ?” said the doctor. 

Mr. Grannell did not reply. He was look- 
ing backward to the days when he was a 
wanderer from native land ; to those sad days 
when in Cologne he had stood before that 
picture hour after hour, calling it his prin- 
cess, his Guyndine ; when he would have giv- 
en every dollar he possessed for the knowl- 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 343 


edge that the slender woman near the door 
loved him. 

''I have been studying her ever since she 
entered the room/’ said the doctor. ''There is 
something striking in her appearance.” They 
crossed the room to where Guyndine stood. 
After he had presented them Mr. Grannell 
said : "Now, Doctor, if you will excuse Mrs. 
Kahree for a moment, I will return her to 
you. I wish to present her to some other 
friends.” 

The Doctor bowed, and taking Guyndine’s 
hand Mr. Grannell drew it through his arm 
and led her to Ruby and Mrs. Craven. 

As they crossed the room Guyndine felt the 
intense gaze of Ruby’s black eyes as they 
rested upon her and seemed to be trying 
to probe into the secrets of her heart. She 
felt intuitively that Ruby Williams believed 
that she loved Edgar Grannell. The thought 
that she was about to be presented to his be- 
trothed who had guessed her secret made 
her sick and faint. With a strong resolve 
to overcome the feeling she brought her will 
to bear and threw it oif. The blood which had 
left her face and seemed to be congealing in 
clots about her heart, with a mighty leap 
surged through her veins, tingeing her check 
with pink, her lips with coral and filling ner 
eyes with an electric sparkle, and, presto ! she 
was the most brilliant woman in that hand- 
some, cultured assembly. As on that night 


344 


GUYNDINE, 


in Kansas City, when she made the discovery 
which shrouded her life with gloom, she was 
making no attempt to outshine nor to shine 
at all ; she was merely struggling for strength 
to endure the trying ordeal. 

Once her sparkling eyes met the dark orbs 
of Mr. Grannell who was close beside her. 
"‘What is it inquired he. 

With a low laugh she turned away as she 
replied, ""Well, what is it?'' On the other side 
she encountered Harry: ""Sister, you are 
flushed; are you ill tonight?" Again she 
turned away with a laugh, saying: ""Brother, 
you are slightly flushed, are you ill tonight ?" 
Edgar Grannell's eyes followed her in won- 
der as Judge Kahree's had followed her that 
fatal night in Kansas City ; and as his eyes 
followed her. Ruby's followed him. 

""Aunty, at first I thought her plain, but 
there is something uncommon about her. She 
is very attractive and as sure as you live she 
loves him, and I am afraid he loves her and 
there is some reason why they cannot marry. 
Oh, it almost kills me to think of it !" 

""Ruby, if I were as handsome as you, no 
woman could make me jealous. I tell you 
you are the queen of his heart. If he ever 
cared for her he doesn't care for her now. 
Anyone who has eyes can see that; and so 
long as you are his choice what need you care 
about his old love scrapes, or how attractive 
she is to other men. I can read him. I have 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 345 


seen his eyes following you tonight with a 
look of such admiration and fondness as they 
follow no other. If ever a man was perfectly 
infatuated, he is.'' 

''Yes, I think myself he is, but I am afraid 
of her influence over him. You know he may 
get over his infatuation and return to his 
love." 

"There is no danger of his getting over it 
as long as he can see you," said Mrs. Craven. 
"Men haven't crow sense when there is a 
handsome woman in sight." 

Dinner was announced and crossing the 
room Mr. Grannell took Ruby on his arm and 
led the way to the dining room, followed by 
Dr. Stanley and Guyndine. 

"I think," said the Doctor in an undertone, 
with a slight inclination of the head toward 
Mr. Grannell, "that congratulations are in 
order. They say he has at last met his fate." 
Guyndine leaned against him heavily and did 
not reply. He glanced into her face and saw 
an expression there which caused a suspicion 
of the truth to cross his mind. "By Jupiter I 
believe I have made a discovery," thought 
he. And don't I pity her? I know how it is 
myself." For the remainder of the evening 
he devoted himself to Guyndine, and his voice 
was low and sympathetic when he conversed 
with her. He felt like telling her to cry it out 
on his shoulder. As he bid her good night 
and turned to leave he said to himself : "But 


346 


GUYNDINE, 


I do fell sorry for her, and I wouldn’t give her 
little finger for a carload like that brazen- 
faced beauty. I thought Grannell had more 
sense.” 

As Harry and Anna were to leave at one 
o’clock Guyndine remained after the other 
guests had gone. When the' last good bye 
had been spoken and the carriage bearing the 
bridal party sped away to the depot, Mr. 
Grannell closed the hall door. Slipping his 
arm through Guyndine’s he led her back to 
the parlor and with his arm linked through 
hers he silently walked through the length of 
both parlors, through the library, through the 
conservatory and on back to the front par- 
lor ; after which he wheeled an easy chair un- 
der the blaze of the gaslight and motioned 
her to be seated. For some minutes he stood 
before her silently looking down at her. 
Glancing up she read an expression of pity 
in his face. ''Now,” thought she, "the time 
has come ; he is going to tell me and there 
is no escape.” 

"I have something I wish to tell you,” said 
he, "and I cannot take you home till you 
have heard it. Proscrastination is a danger- 
ous thing, especially in matters like this.” 

Her heart began to flutter and her hand 
trembled. "You need not tell me, for I al- 
ready know it.” 

"Oh, no, I think you are mistaken.” His 
lips parted with an amused smile. "I was 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 347 


congratulated three times tonight on my ap- 
proaching marriage with Mrs. Ruby VVil- 
liams.’' In spite of herself, Guyndine started 
and caught her breath with a gasp. “Oh, you 
need not gasp,’’ said he, “I thought you knew 
me better than this. Did you think that after 
all we have suffered I could be untrue lo 
you ?” 

“You are under no obligations to me,” said 
she.^ 

With a quiet smile he replied : “I beg leave 
to differ with you. I consider myself bound 
to you.” 

“Why, Edgar, how can you be bound to 
a woman who has a living husband? You 
have told me repeatedly that you had given 
up all thought of marriage.” 

“And so I have. But you need my friend- 
ship and love as I need yours, thus far I am 
bound to you and thus far will I stand true 
to you till death separates us. And I con- 
sider the relationship between us as strong 
and sacred as if it had been celebrated by an 
elaborate ceremony, and before God and the 
holy angels it is pure and sinless. I take this 
as a poor compliment, especially since you 
have given me credit for so little sense as to 
take a woman with nothing but beauty to rec- 
ommend her. I now understand what you 
meant that Sunday evening when you asked 
me if I was sure I was fortified against temp- 
tation. I think,” said he, laughing, “I should 


848 


GUYNDINE, 


need fortification if I had no more sense than 
to take a step like that. Really, Guyndine, 
don't you think you owe me a very humble 
apology ?" 

She extended her hand to him and turned 
her face away. '‘Oh, Edgar! Edgar!'’ The 
tone and gesture told him what she had suf- 
fered. 

He took the extended hand. "Talk about 
your Spartan heroes, the boy who hugged the 
fox while it ate his vitals out and all that; 
but if your life hasn't shown the herioc, I am 
no judge. You are the bravest little woman 
that ever drew breath." 

"Let the world think of me as it will," said 
she, "if you think thus, it is enough." Alter 
a moment's silence she said: "But, Edgar, I 
cannot understanad how it was that you paid 
such marked attention to Mrs. Williams as to 
create this mistake in the minds of the people. 
Has not she also misconstrued your atten- 
tions ?" 

"Oh, no ! She understood it and I sup- 
posed you did. It was all owing to Mrs. 
Craven insisting on my helping to entertain 
her, and keeping me so continually at it. I 
felt under some obligations as they have 
been very kind to me and mine. Still I did 
not expect to be monopolized to the extent 
that I have been, nor did I expect to be un- 
derstood as courting her; for such a thing 
never entered my mind. I shall mention it to 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 349 


Mrs. Craven tomorrow. There is no serious 
harm done, I assure you.’' 

Two days later Ruby Williams left St. 
I.ouis for Cincinnati, a very disconsolate 
woman. She stopped at St. Charles for a 
short visit and while there met the Rev. Dr. 
Noble, who at once removed the crape band 
from his hat, which token of sorrow he had 
been wearing for his second wife. Defacing 
time has left it cruel marks upon the Rever- 
end Doctor. He has grown corpulent, and 
the bald spot on the crown of his head has 
increased till it is the size of his face; the 
sparse blond fringe which decorates the lower 
edge is always fragrant with eau de cologne, 
and we are glad to be able to say for it — the 
bald spot, not the fringe — that which cannot 
be said of his face ; it had an innocent, pathet- 
ic expression which his worst enemy was 
forced to acknowledge. If the Doctor had 
known how much more attractive he was 
from this side he would have managed some 
way to have kept it turned toward his con- 
gregation for he believed in keeping the best 
exposed to public view; another sad case of 
blissful ignorance. His attraction to Mrs. 
Williams was another case of love at first 
sight on the Doctor’s part and of indifference 
and desperation from first to last on Ruby’s. 
The Reverend Doctor’s grief at losing a wife 
was again assuaged by the joy of choosing 
another. After a courtship of six weeks they 


350 


GUYNDINE, 


were married, and after they had been mar- 
ried six weeks the Doctor felt more like wear- 
ing cdape than he had ever done before ; but 
sad to relate, fate had decreed that he should 
never wear it again. It was Ruby’s turn next, 
which was a little more than a year after 
their marriage. She tolerated it long enough 
to get back to Cincinnati; when she threw 
it aside and came out in gay colors, congratu- 
lating herself on her wonderful escape and de- 
claring that she hated men worse than poi- 
son. 


CHAPTER XXIX. 


To follow the conventional herd is igfnominy. 

Bravely step from the ranks 

And refuse to ape cowards and knaves. 

Take Uriel’s motto, “God is my light,’’ 

And blaze it like a meteor on the dim sight 
Of those who are going astray. 

And while transverse winds 
From either coast blow. 

Sing the song of the Dorian mood and go! 
And from under the feet of the sons of Belial 
Rescue the banner of truth. 

The soft shadowy days of autumn have 
come again, dreamy and sweet with their pale 
flowers and gorgeous woods, shade deepen- 
ing on shade from declining green to darkest 
brown. The beautiful desolate prospect thrills 
the soul with the thought that we are mor- 
tal and swiftly passing away. Very soon the 
-soughing wind will be singing our death re- 
quiem. But, anon, our hearts grow light and 
our pathway illumined as we behold all about 
us the brush touches of the divine Artist 
which have left age, even in its last stage of 
decay, more resplendent than when it wore 
the freshness of youth ; and we are comforted 


352 


GUYNDINE, 


with the thought that the same wise Being 
who takes delight in all this bueaty is su- 
preme Ruler beyond the veil. 

Character to be made complete must be 
elevated by piety; and genius must be 
touched by the divine Artist. 

There was nothing marvelous in the com- 
positions of Handel till after his conversion 
at the age of fifty-five. But one lesson from 
the great Artist revealed to him the glories 
of Messiah’s reign. His spirit soared and 
caught the grand hallelujahs from the glory 
land, which rang out through all the earth 
like a vision of God himself. 

The celebrated M. Tassot who has been 
in Palestine painting the life of Christ, had 
crossed the half-century line before he began 
his life work. He had for years been paint- 
ing scenes of Parisian frivolity. Suddenlv a 
breath from Jehovah touched his soul, and 
mystic hands beckoned him to Jerusalem, and 
from Mount Scopus he was permitted to as- 
cend to the delectable mountains and see vis- 
ions of the Celestial City, and his pencil 
caught the fine tracery, his brush the delicate 
tints of the New Jerusalem. The most elo- 
quent tongue is ''sounding brass and tinkling 
cymbal,” till touched with a spark from the 
Altar; the most persuasive pen powerless to 
convince if the hand which holds it is not 
moved by the Divine Will. 

It was a brilliant evening in September. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 353 


Guyndine sat by the window in her studio, 
watching the moon climb a bank of fleecy 
clouds. Just as her smiling face appeared 
above the last cloud and she sailed away tri- 
umphant, the gate opened and a gentleman 
with a quick, ringing step came up the walk. 
The bell rang and in a moment there was 
a rap at the door of her studio. She has- 
tened to open it for she thought she recog- 
nized the step. Mr. Grannell stood there 
with his hat in his hand. He did not speak 
but turned to the rack and left his hat and 
gloves. 

''Good evening, Mr. Grannell,'’ said Guyn- 
dine. 

There was no reply. He entered the room, 
closed the door behind him, caught her to his 
breast and almost smothered her with kisses. 
She was so taken by surprise and so perfect- 
ly amazed at this unusual conduct that for a 
moment she did not resist. When she rea- 
lized what was being done, with an effort she 
freed herself and stepping back said indig- 
nantly: "What do you mean, sir? Have 
you gone entirely mad?" 

Without a word he took a match from his 
pocket and crossing the room to a gas jet 
lit it. Turning he drew from his pocket Judge 
Kahree's letter and read it aloud. She sank 
in a limp heap upon a couch and covered her 


G-23 


354 


GUYNDINE, 


face with her hands. ‘'Here is a brief note to 
you on the same sheet.'' 

“Read it; I cannot." 

When he read: “I shall be standing with 
the redeemed inside the pearly gates where 
I shall wait for her who, by her godly life, 
showed me the cross of Christ," she moaned 
and sobbed. He had never before seen her 
weep and he stood looking at her in sad sur- 
prise. “Guyndine, do you still love him like 
this?" 

“Yes, I love him and I shall always love 
him with the same love I have for Harry. 
Could I hear of Harry’s death and not grieve ? 
Oh, poor Arrel ! What a sad life was his ; and 
he had a great, tender, loving heart and a 
noble, generous nature. Again she threw 
her face forward in her hands and sobbed. 

There was an expression of intense pain in 
his face as he stood looking down at her; 
glancing up, she saw it. “Edgar, I do not 
grieve for him as a wife would grieve for a 
husband. Do not feel thus ; do not think that 
he is your rival. To me he was as a kind, lov- 
ing brother, one of my truest and dearest 
friends. He was one of nature's true noble- 
men and it was all owing to the 
fact that there was no hand to lead 
him to Christ in his youth that his 
life was blighted. I can never forget 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 355 


him, never! but, Edgar, I have never loved 
any other thing earthly as I love you.’’ 

'‘I am satisfied but I admit that for a mo- 
ment the thought crossed my mind that I had 
never before seen you shed a tear. But when 
I recall your agonized face when you thought 
me dying, and remember that grief for me al- 
most cost you your life, I am ashamed that 
such a thought entered my mind ; and know- 
ing you as I do, I can never again be jealous 
of any man dead or alive.” He stepped to her 
side and, taking his handkerchief, bent over 
her and wiped the tears from her face. “We 
might have been married months ago, if we 
had known, and now these tears must be 
dried, for tomorrow is our wedding day and I 
cannot permit any more tears on this our 
wedding eve.” 

“You are not the one to name the wedding 
day,” said she. 

“Well, I have named it any way, even if 
I did usurp the right. I named it once be- 
fore and you disappointed me woefully, but 
this time you will find me not so easy to get 
rid of. You have made me complete master 
of the situation by telling me that you loved 
me better than any other thing earthly. 
There is something in a man’s nature which 
gives him a feeling of assurance and makes 
him want to lord it over a woman after she 
makes such an admission. Do you see now 
what you have done?” said he laughing. “I 


356 


GUTNDINE, 


am in a most tyrannical mood tonight, so I 
repeat it, tomorrow is our wedding day. It 
is the day which I have so long anticipated 
as the one on which you would take the vow 
to obey me. Think of it.'' He laughed mer- 
rily. ‘T shall give you your first lesson in 
obedience tonight. I will make concession 
enough, however, to allow you to name the 
hour, for which you will doubtless be very 
grateful." 

''Edgar," said she as she lifted the dark 
locks which had fallen over his forehead as 
he bent over her, "you never before gave me a 
glimpse of the tyrannical side of your nature. 
I thought, however, that you had seen the 
stubborn side of mine ; but since you haven't, 
I will force you to name the hour as well 
as the day for I positively refuse to consider 
your commands one minute before I agree 
to." 

"Very well," said he, "this is not the most 
arduous task I ever had to perform. So to- 
morrow at five p. m., and we will go home to 
dinner. 

‘Then come the wild weather, come sleet or 
come snow, 

We will stand by each other however it blow. 

Oppression and sickness, sorrow and pain, 

Shall be to our true love as links to the 
chain.’ ” 

** ** ** ** 

Willie Dobson has never married. His life 
is completely consecrated to Christ's work. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 357 


He has never had a return of one symptom 
of his disease. He preaches in a church built 
by his own money, and supported by con- 
tributions from individual sacrifice. 

In his church they do not sing ‘‘Fm the 
child of a King,’’ and falsify their own state- 
ment by holding out an empty palm to a 
saloon-keeper or a gambler for a nickle to 
help support the institution of that King. Oh 
shame ! If Christ had instituted an organiza- 
tion without a provision for its support, it 
would be a strong argument against His di- 
vinity. If He is not a financier. He is not God. 
But He did not fail to make the provision, 
though it is ignored by many ministers and 
professing Christians all over the land. Christ 
never intended outsiders to help support His 
Church. He did not tell the young man to 
sell his goods and give the money to the 
Apostles nor build a church. God had long 
ago arranged for the support of the Church 
and had named the amount which each in- 
dividual should pay — not give. Indiscriminate 
acceptance of the doctrines of present day 
preaching, even from what is termed the or- 
thodox pulpit, is dangerous. We must exam- 
ine God’s word for ourselves. It is conceded 
by the best Bible students of the age that we 
are now in the Loadicean, or seventh period 
of the Church of which the Spirit said: '‘I 
will spew thee out of my mouth.” The luke- 


358 


GUYNDINE, 


warm condition of the Church together with 
the cowardice and unfaithfulness of a large 
majority of the priesthood, is another proof 
of the divinity of Christ. This state of af- 
fairs was foretold by the voice of prophecy 
twenty centuries ago. Not that God fore- 
ordained it, though he foreknew it. Remem- 
ber how Christ wept over Jerusalem and 
would have '‘gathered her children as a hen 
gathereth her chickens, and she would not.’^ 
Shall we now abandon the Church and, be- 
cause Judas is there, step aside and say we are 
too pure to be contaminated? Was not Judas 
one of the twelve? Did not Christ patiently 
tolerate him? Or has he treated us worse 
than he treated our Master? Has he sold 
us for thirty pieces of silver to be crucified? 
If he has, is that any reason why we should 
desert the organization which our Master in- 
stituted and left in our charge ? Is our mar- 
riage vow which was taken for eternity for- 
gotten? Shall we turn against the Bride- 
groom because the shadow of his enemy has 
fallen across our pathway? Perhaps we think 
with Elijah: 'T have been very jealous for the 
Lord God of hosts ; for the children of Israel 
have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down 
thy altars and slain thy prophets with the 
sword, and I, even I only, am left.’’ But let 
us remember that God has his thousands. 


A WOMAN WITH A CONSCIENCE. 359 


even now, ‘'who have not bowed the knee to 
Baal, nor kissed him,'' and they are in every 
organization which bears his name. 

‘‘All hail the power of Jesus’ name! 

Let angels prostrate fall; 

Bring forth the royal diadem, 

And crown him Lord of all.” 


THE END. 



Sept 


fi 27 1901 





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